In The News: Department of Economics
The two leading presidential candidates and their surrogates during Vegas campaign stops have voiced support for ending taxes on tips. But the similar proposals as outlined by Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump remain unlikely to be implemented, according to 51ԹϺ economist Stephen M. Miller.

Kim Ngan Bui, a pharmacy student at Roseman University of Health Sciences in Las Vegas, needed a way to make money once she realized an internship with limited hours wouldn’t suffice, and a remote, full-time job would take too much time away from her busy graduate school schedule. That’s when she turned to DoorDash.
Among those concerned about the climate, it’s become something of a self-evident truth that as people suffer more severe and more frequent extreme weather and grapple with global warming’s impact on their daily lives, they’ll come to understand the problem at a visceral level. As a result, they’ll be eager for action. In other words, many climate activists believe that even if advocates and academics can’t sway the hardened opinions of the dismissive, extreme weather can wake anyone up.

Southern Nevadans reacted to the Federal Reserve’s Wednesday announcement of the first interest rate cut in four years. The drop of half a percentage point will bring the key rate to 4.75%-5.00%, which will in turn influence credit cards, mortgage rates, and loans.

Southern Nevadans reacted to the Federal Reserve’s Wednesday announcement of the first interest rate cut in four years. The drop of half a percentage point will bring the key rate to 4.75%-5.00%, which will in turn influence credit cards, mortgage rates, and loans.

In Las Vegas, ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft, and short-term rental apps like Airbnb have changed — really changed — the landscape for taxi companies and, perhaps, hotels. In July 2014, for instance, the Nevada Taxicab Authority said cab drivers gave more than 2 million rides to customers. In July of this year, that was down about 50% to around a million riders. A big question, though, is if things are changing back. And there’s some evidence indicating that it might be doing just that.

In Las Vegas, ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft, and short-term rental apps like Airbnb have changed — really changed — the landscape for taxi companies and, perhaps, hotels. In July 2014, for instance, the Nevada Taxicab Authority said cab drivers gave more than 2 million rides to customers. In July of this year, that was down about 50% to around a million riders. A big question, though, is if things are changing back. And there’s some evidence indicating that it might be doing just that.

Both presidential candidates have promised to eliminate taxes on tips if they're elected. That is no small promise here in Las Vegas, where almost a third of the population are service workers. Only 1% of the state's income revenue is from reported tip wages.

Straddling the line between spectacle and restaurant, the Las Vegas buffet is an entity unto its own. It’s a place where rules are meant to be broken; where diners can wander with towering plates of food in hand, pile in seven different desserts, and say things like, “I think I’ll try both flavors of melted butter.” But in order to have the best time — or at least the most cost-effective experience — there are guidelines to follow, ones that may spare you from long lines, overspending, or going in without a holistic game plan. Below, experts weigh in on the dos and don’ts of dining in a Las Vegas buffet.
As Indianapolis leaders head to Major League Soccer all-star festivities this week, the city's bid to land a franchise - while not fully fleshed out - is further along than efforts in other cities that have been mentioned as possible franchise sites in recent years. In a matter of three months, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett has identified a downtown stadium location, received a key approval for the site and has even picked up some statewide political support. All are important to making the city attractive to MLS.

More than two dozen minor league franchises — including Silvers, Outlaws, Thunder and Gladiators are on the headstones in Southern Nevada’s sports graveyard. But not the Las Vegas Aviators. Without its $150 million stadium anchoring Downtown Summerlin, the Triple-A team — which has been known as Stars and 51s — might have followed.

When former President Donald Trump held a rally in Las Vegas in mid-June, he pledged to end federal taxation of tips. “Hotel workers and people that get tips, you’re going to be very happy because when I get to office, we are going to not charge taxes on tips,” he said. “We’re going to do that right away, first thing in office.”