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Tu-Uyen Tran

@tuuyentran.bsky.social
39 followers 2 following 179 posts

Senior writer, Minneapolis Fed, spreadsheet enthusiast, neighborhood shelf-reading champ. RT ≠ endorsement. My views ≠ Mpls Fed's views

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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
This reminds me of being a reporter and writing about opposition to new apartments from neighbors. I still recall a neighbor saying they didn't want renters moving in. I was an owner then but had to wonder if I was somehow scum when I was a renter the year before www.startribune.com/blaine-adu-a...
startribune.com
Roper: Tiny house fight is a microcosm of affordable housing resistance
Property rights are at the heart of a lawsuit over Blaine’s rejection of a proposed mother-in-law suite for homeless families.
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
I'm researching unlicensed child care (e.g., grandmas). One reason it's common is lack of affordable/available licensed care, esp. for infants. Found this chart in CPS data via @ipums.bsky.social. Most paid care is licensed care. As kids age, care gets less costly and easier. Then schools take them.
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
A child care person I interviewed told me today that more children are cared for by family, friends, neighbors, in part, because we're seeing more young children with mental health issues. Licensed providers can't give them individual attention they need so parents turn to Grandma.
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Reposted by Tu-Uyen Tran
Paul Wallace @ptwall.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
New: Article by Mike Waugh and Jeff Horwich @minneapolisfed.bsky.social looks at potential job losses and impacts of trade war w/ China based on 2018-2019 experience and related research of that prior episode. www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2025...
minneapolisfed.org
Tallying the two channels of job losses from tariffs | Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
2018–19 China trade war offers estimates of potential jobs lost to retaliation and rising input costs
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
There appears to be renewed interest in banning foreign adversaries from owning US farmland. For those interested, here's a primer I wrote a year ago about the topic. Bottom line, foreigners don't own as much as you might think, and adversaries own way less. www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2024...
minneapolisfed.org
Foreign investor or foreign adversary? | Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Real estate investors from China, Russia, and other countries are target of new state laws
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Reposted by Tu-Uyen Tran
Paul Wallace @ptwall.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Tariff Impacts: Delayed or Avoided? New essay this morning by @minneapolisfed.bsky.social President Neel Kashkari where he lays out his argument for potentially two rate cuts in 2025. #econsky www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2025...
minneapolisfed.org
Tariff Impacts: Delayed or Avoided? | Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
We surveyed nonprofits in Montana, South Dakota, and North Dakota and found that funding has become very challenging. It's no surprise that federal funding is less available but so is private funding. My article explains why: www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2025...
minneapolisfed.org
Nonprofits roiled by funding cuts and threats of more cuts, surveys find | Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Montana, South Dakota, and North Dakota nonprofits say both public and private funding are affected
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Reposted by Tu-Uyen Tran
Opportunity & Inclusive Growth Institute @oiginstitute.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
Health inequality is important for understanding economic outcomes, Karen Kopecky recognizes, and not only for the individuals with health vulnerabilities but for those around them as well. Scholar spotlight from @minneapolisfed.bsky.social's @tuuyentran.bsky.social: bit.ly/3EtXUWw
bit.ly
Scholar spotlight: Karen Kopecky | Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Unpacking dysfunction in long-term care insurance
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Join us TOMORROW for the 2025 Regional Economic Conditions Conference. This virtual event will feature CHS President Jay Debertin in conversation with Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari. Event will also include panel discussions w/ reps from across our region. To register: t.co/we2b8unJRM
minneapolisfed.org
2025 Regional Economic Conditions Conference | Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 26/09/2024
The Strib has a nice preview of the conference that offers some add'l context: www.startribune.com/child-care-h... 13/13
startribune.com
Child care has long been a vexing problem in rural Minnesota. One county may have cracked the code.
Stevens County’s pod model has attracted attention as an innovative solution for a longstanding issue.
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 26/09/2024
On the other hand, one person said their community leaders were people young enough to have young kids and they were on board right away. 12/13
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 26/09/2024
One person said the key is to get "Bob" on your side. That's their nickname for a key leader in the rural community who holds a lot of sway. 11/13
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 26/09/2024
The other thing I took away from the conference is that buy-in can be hard. One person said their community leaders denied child care was a problem. They had to wait for it to get bad enough before people were convinced. 10/13
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 26/09/2024
There were examples of nonprofit groups providing space as well: St. Gabriel's Health in Little Falls has space for 2 providers in a vacant bldg. www.minnpost.com/greater-minn... And a new nonprofit started a child care center in Warroad www.warroadchildcarecenter.org. 9/13
minnpost.com
Little Falls hospital, school district jump into the child care fray - MinnPost
The city, along with a local hospital, has been leading the efforts to reduce the costs for family child care providers, making it easier for them to stay afloat.
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 26/09/2024
Several people involved in the pods model said it's easier to get started because regulations are less stringent for small providers. Luverne went with a center because it wanted to serve more families. 8/13
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 26/09/2024
Normally smaller providers operate out of their own home but there are lots of barriers: they have to be homeowners, costly upgrades to the home to meet state codes, disruption of family life. 7/13
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 26/09/2024
These examples show two models. One is just a regular child care center. The subsidized space is what's different. The other is the "pod" model, where a bunch of small providers (10-14 kids) operate under 1 roof. 6/13
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 26/09/2024
Luverne will provide space for a nonprofit-run child care center that can care for 186 children. www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/suc... 5/13
rd.usda.gov
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 26/09/2024
New Ulm offers space for 4 providers in a bldg the economic development agency bought: www.nujournal.com/news/local-n... 4/13
nujournal.com
Pod model day care opens New Ulm building
NEW ULM — A special ribbon cutting event was held at 1314 Westridge Road Friday in honor of New Ulm’s pod model day care, Westridge Place The pod model day
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 26/09/2024
Stevens County offers space for 6 providers in a rowhouse it built with grants: stevenscountytimes.com/daycare-pods... 3/13
stevenscountytimes.com
Daycare Pods have been open for nearly one year, Stevens County hopes to add more - Stevens County Times
Amid mounting concerns about childcare availability, a new model for daycare opened last summer in Stevens County. The Daycare Pods, as they’ve come to be
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 26/09/2024
Hills subsidizes space for 3 providers in a bldg the city got through tax forfeiture: www.siouxfallslive.com/news/sioux-f... 2/13
siouxfallslive.com
Hills, Minn., offers city-owned building to address childcare shortage
After multiple childcare providers retired, the City of Hills is using an innovative way to provide new options.
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 26/09/2024
The child care business model has been described as "broken," implying the market isn't working as well as hoped. So I was interested to learn at a recent First Children's Finance conference about market interventions by local govts in rural MN. 1/13
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 04/09/2024
I explored the issue earlier this year, and found most people concerned with foreign ownership are concerned with a handful of adversaries (e.g., China). Most foreigners buying US land are investors from friendly nations (the MI story mentions Canadians): www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2024... 2/2
minneapolisfed.org
Foreign investor or foreign adversary? | Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Real estate investors from China, Russia, and other countries are target of new state laws
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 04/09/2024
Foreigners have bought more forest land in Michigan's Upper Peninsula: www.mlive.com/public-inter... Is that a bad thing? 1/2
mlive.com
Upper Peninsula forestland increasingly bought by foreign landowners
In a year, Michigan's foreign-owned agricultural acreage went from 5.6% to 8.6% – with the biggest jumps in the Upper Peninsula.
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 03/09/2024
Also check out my buddy Jeff's video about another State Fair poll that we conducted. x.com/MinneapolisF... 13/13
x.com
x.com
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 03/09/2024
This wasn't a scientific survey (obviously) and the picture I took was just from a few hours of polling. But these results align well with what we know about the work force. 12/13
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 03/09/2024
One dad said being able to work from home during the pandemic taught him that he can work hard and still have time for family. 11/13
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 03/09/2024
Did the pandemic cause more people to reflect on their work and choose work-life balance than otherwise? For many, yes. They might have chosen benefits/career growth before but now they choose meaningful work/work-life balance. 10/13
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 03/09/2024
An older woman delighted me with her frankness: I hate work and don't want to spend so much time there. She couldn't wait to retire. 9/13
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 03/09/2024
No surprise that lots of parents chose work-life balance, too. 8/13
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 03/09/2024
Another younger person said he might have chosen benefits/career growth when he was younger but now he cares more about personal time. He looked like he was in his late 20s. 7/13
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 03/09/2024
Some employers say younger workers aren't as hardworking these days but maybe they just skipped the sacrifice-life-for-work stage that younger people usually go through and are as appreciative of personal time as their elders. 6/13
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 03/09/2024
One younger person said what I've heard in news stories about the Gen Z work force: careers are less rewarding, pay is stagnant, she might as well enjoy personal time. 5/13
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 03/09/2024
But there didn't seem to be any split between old and young. Many younger people (younger than me, so 20s-30s) chose work-life balance, too. 4/13
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 03/09/2024
Several older persons (close to/at retirement age) said they've come to realize that personal time is valuable. They thought younger people would more likely choose benefits or career growth. But that wasn't the case. 3/13
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 03/09/2024
For context, A was "benefits package," B "career growth," C "meaningful work." 2/13
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 03/09/2024
One of the polls at @MinneapolisFed's MN State Fair booth asked what people valued most in a job other than pay. It's amazing how many people chose "work-life balance." That's answer D in the photo. I asked people why. More below. 1/13
4 tubes labeled A, B, C, D. Each filled with fuzzy balls. Tube D has the most balls by far, followed by C, A, then B.
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 15/08/2024
Here are my sources www.fox21online.com/2024/08/14/r... data.bts.gov/stories/s/Bo... 3/3
fox21online.com
Railway Bridge Collapses Near MN-CA Border; No Reports Of Injuries - Fox21Online
Courtesy: Rainy Lake Property Owners Assoc. MN/CA BORDER. — CN-owned Rainy River Rail Lift Bridge collapsed Wednesday, which is on the Canadian side of the Minnesota-U.S. border, according to NWOnewsw...
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 15/08/2024
The bridge is in Ranier but the responsible port of entry appears to be International Falls. 2/3
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 15/08/2024
One of my colleagues mentioned that the railroad bridge between Ranier MN and Fort Frances ON was closed because of some damage. Turns out that's a pretty important bridge! 1/3
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 13/08/2024
My source for all the data is NOAA's billion-dollar disaster page: www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billi.... 10/10
ncei.noaa.gov
Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
Summary of U.S. billion-dollar weather and climate related disaster research, methodology, and data sources
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 13/08/2024
Why are we seeing more of these big disasters? Climate change is one reason, says NOAA. But there are more houses and more people in disaster areas. Florida and Texas, which are some of the more disaster prone states, have seen big population increases. 9/10
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 13/08/2024
We are seeing an increase in big disasters that cause a lot of damage (think hurricanes) but the number of "smaller" disasters (think hailstorms) has increased faster since the 2000s. By smaller I mean less than $10B. 8/10
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 13/08/2024
National data shows that total damage from billion-dollar disasters has increased but damage per disaster has not. 7/10
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 13/08/2024
It would be better to show the actual amount of damage in each state but that data is proprietary and not available from NOAA. National data is available and I'll talk about that next. 6/10
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 13/08/2024
Note that each state didn't suffer a billion dollar in damage. Billion-dollar disasters cause at least $1B in damage in inflation-adjusted dollars in total. Each state on the chart could have a larger or smaller share of that. 5/10
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 13/08/2024
If we just focus on the last few years, the billion-dollar disasters have become even more frequent. Here's a comparison between what you saw in the last chart and 2020-2023 period (normalized to 10 years). 4/10
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 13/08/2024
Here's the actual number of disasters in the recent 10-year period. 3/10
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 13/08/2024
Here's the actual number of billion-dollar disasters in the 2000s. 2/10
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Tu-Uyen Tran @tuuyentran.bsky.social · 13/08/2024
I've been absolutely obsessed with NOAA's "billion-dollar" disaster page mostly because the increase in the number of such disasters has been so large. Here's a chart to start with before I do a nerd dive into the numbers. Dark blue are Ninth District states. 1/10
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