Richard Anderson writes: How will anyone ever know if "they have been a significant part of the Mpls. economy"? Just where do you think Billy Graham spends the money? I doubt much gets into the Mpls. economy.
Earl Netwal responds: Such things are calculable, but it requires inside information, or access to otherwise confidential state data. They pay employees who work here who in turn buy goods and services within the local area. They buy products from area merchants such as paper, ink, etc for their publications, this activity supports workers in those industries. Their status as I reported as the biggest mailer in Minneapolis suggests that the Minneapolis Post office needed to employ more people than it might otherwise to service the load. These impacts can be calculated using a software program that was perfected here at the University of Minnesota known as IMPLAN. Other economic modeling methodologies are available as well. In a large economy like the Twin Cities metro city state, it is difficult to say any one firm has an impact unless it is quite large. But do not doubt the fact that every little bit does add up, and as importantly critical clusters of industries have additional impact as they tend to strengthen each other and provide the basis for the region to develop competitive advantages within the cluster. _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
