Two NMU economics faculty members recently gave a presentation on the Upper Peninsula economy as part of the Regional Economic Conditions Conference at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Sam M. Cohodas professor Tawni Ferrarini and associate professor Hugo Eyzaguirre described some of the economic challenges facing the U.P., including isolation and a lack of major employers.

A Duluth News Tribune article featured the following quote from Eyzaguirre: “(It’s) trying to get younger people to come up with their own projects, investments, given that they cannot rely on being employed by a large company.”

Following the presentation, Ferrarini and Eyzaguirre took part in a moderated question-and- answer session. This was the first Regional Economic Conditions Conference for the ninth district, which includes economists from the U.P., Northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana.