In this episode of Oregon D.O.G.E., hosts Senator Daniel Bonham and Mike McLane dissect the troubling economic trajectory of Portland, Oregon. Drawing on data presented to the Senate Labor and Business Committee by economist Dr. Michael Wilkerson of EcoNorthwest, the conversation centers on a term that’s making headlines: The Doom Loop.
Once a vibrant and thriving city, Portland is now facing a critical point in its economic and social health. The doom loop describes a cycle where high taxes drive away businesses and high-income earners, leading to reduced revenue for public services, decreased quality of life, and even more population loss. Bonham and McLane explore this loop with real numbers and historical context—from rising pessimism, shuttered restaurants, and vanishing job sectors, to increasing income loss through migration and declining housing production.
Key topics include:
- Portland’s historically high tax burden and the mass migration of wealthy residents
- The collapse of key private-sector job growth (construction, manufacturing, and leisure/hospitality)
- How defund-the-police policies, open-air drug use, and a weakened public safety apparatus have eroded livability
- The impact of housing supply constraints and regulatory burdens
- The generational shift in Oregon’s demographics—with more elderly than youth for the first time
The hosts reflect on their personal connections to Portland, sharing how their own families once thrived in the city. They don’t just criticize; they advocate for bipartisan cooperation, pragmatic leadership, and meaningful policy reform to restore Portland’s position as an economic engine—not just for the metro area, but for the entire state.
This is a must-listen for Oregonians who want to understand the underlying data, challenge the status quo, and reimagine what a functional, thriving Portland—and Oregon—could look like.