Mike Walden

Jul 6, 2018

You Decide: Is North Carolina Keeping Up With Other States?

Economic growth is a little bit like air travel. If growth is slow, it can be a bumpy ride with the threat of a recession always looming. But if growth is faster, the economy can feel like it is cruising at high altitude, creating opportunities for more people and more places. 

Jun 28, 2018

Economic Perspective: Non-Compete Contracts

How pervasive are non-compete contracts in our society, and what impact do they have on workers? 

Jun 22, 2018

You Decide: What Should Be Done About Income Inequality?

The gap in income inequality has been steadily climbing over the years. What factors into this gap, and is there anything that can be done to lessen it? 

Jun 21, 2018

Economic Perspective: The Next Recession

After a recent survey, when do members of the National Association of Business Economists think the next recession could be? 

Jun 15, 2018

Economic Perspective: Alternative Unemployment Rates

The unemployment rate is often cited as a measure of economic health, but did you know there are multiple ways of measuring a society’s unemployment? 

Jun 11, 2018

You Decide: How Will the Workforce Change?

A case can be made that today’s job market is changing in rapid and unpredictable ways. This is due to the tremendous advances in technology, which experts say will continue to shape the kinds of jobs available to workers for decades to come. 

Jun 7, 2018

Economic Perspective: Is There Hope for Controlling Health Care Costs?

"I think the answer about controlling health care costs is going to rely on two things: technology and nutrition.” 

May 25, 2018

You Decide: Is It Time for a Mileage Tax?

As fuel efficiency rises, drivers are getting more miles per gallon of gas. This means the same wear and tear on the roads is occurring, but with less money collected from the gas tax. A mileage tax is not impacted by gains in fuel efficiency or use of different kinds of fuel. 

May 17, 2018

Economic Perspective: The Key to Faster Economic Growth

The belief is: if the economic growth accelerates then job growth will be stronger, and wage and salaries will rise. How can we get the economy to expand more rapidly? 

May 14, 2018

You Decide: Is There a Solution for the Generational Clash?

Today’s generational clash takes a different form, one which is resulting in a competition over public resources in states. It pits the fast-growing retirement generation with their need for health care against the young generation who depend on education to get ahead in the economy.