Alaska ranks dead last in the U.S. for business competitiveness in 2021. CNBC releases an annual report ranking all 50 states on which are best to do business in, and Alaska ranked 50thRead More
PEAKS Performance 2021: The Pandemic Did Alaska’s Students No Favors
School closures and uncertainty in 2020 and 2021 certainly did no favors for Alaskan students. The 2021 Performance Evaluation for Alaska’s Schools (PEAKS) results are now available, and they reveal particularly worrisome trends in proficiency, especially in mathematics. More thanRead More
Why Occupational Licensing Hurts Alaskans
By Tim Barto and Quinn Townsend A strong, long-term economy for Alaska must include a flourishing private sector. Freedom in the market sparks innovation, encourages the development of new businesses, and creates jobs. Governmental meddling does the opposite, and oneRead More
Alaska Marine Highway System: Alternative Approaches
By Quinn Townsend and Sarah Montalbano The state-owned Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) provides ferry transportation to 35 Alaskan coastal communities, contributing to the economic and social well-being of those communities.[1] Unfortunately, itRead More
How to Raise Alaska’s Already High Cost of Living
The cost of living in Alaska is high and Alaskans know it. In fact, in a ranking of 250 cities around the country in early 2021, four Alaskan cities are ranked in the top 25 most expensive:Read More
Teacher Turnover in Alaska: Causes and Solutions
By Drew Godsell Alaska faces significant problems in delivering effective education, as evidenced by poor test results consistently near the bottom of nationwide student reading scores. While many issues contribute to these poor outcomes, anRead More