News & Updates

Mid-Week Reads: China and Student Loan Debt

by | Jun 1, 2016 | Other

Every week, North Star will take some time out of our schedules to bring you our favorite reads from the past week.

Jeff Van Wychen

China’s Twilight Years

China’s economy–which until recently appeared to be an unstoppable juggernaut–will be hampered in future decades by an aging population which will cause China’s workforce to shrink. While the United States has its own demographic issues to deal with, it will avoid the severity of the problem faced by China and other rapidly aging nations, thanks largely to immigration.

Stephanie Fenner

Student Loan Debt Vexing for Many Grads, But There Are Options

There are options for students who have trouble repaying their loans, but a new article from MPR notes that a new study found 94% of student loan borrowers don’t know the terms of their repayment plans. That could also mean they don’t know their options. This article profiles Minnesotans struggling to repay their student loans.

Exploited Youth: Strengthening Child Labor Protections in Minnesota

At 10 PM, a 16-year-old clocked in to their shift. They spent the next 6 hours cleaning a meat grinder with a pressure hose. At 4 AM they clocked out. At 8:50 AM, their school day started. Though this scene may sound like an excerpt from Upton Sinclair’s 1906 novel,...

The Misplaced Priorities of “Business” Leaders

Minnesota’s economy is under siege after the first month of a chaotic Trump administration. We’re in an on-again-off-again trade war with our closest neighbors, employers are planning  “recession-level” layoffs, the Executive Branch is unilaterally canceling contracts...

Diverting Dollars: The Danger of School Vouchers in Minnesota

The number of students receiving taxpayer money for vouchers to attend private or religious schools has surged in the US, growing from 12,000 at the turn of the century to over 1 million today. At the same time, evidence has mounted showing that these vouchers weaken...

Progress and Protection: Aligning AI Innovation with Worker Welfare

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to transform the workplace, offering opportunities for innovation while presenting significant challenges for Minnesota’s workers. A recent survey highlights the disconnect between employer expectations and worker experiences:...

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