2010

Dec 2, 2010

Job crash

We now have enough information available to reach some conclusions about how bad the recession has been, says N.C. State University economist Mike Walden. And compared to other recent recessions, the latest has been brutal in terms of job losses. 

Dec 1, 2010

North Carolina to serve as FoodCorps site for program to help grow healthy children

A national effort to improve children’s knowledge of and access to healthy food will have a presence at five North Carolina locations beginning next year. 

Dec 1, 2010

New blood

There was new blood in the latest World Series: The Texas Rangers had never been in the series, and the San Francisco Giants hadn’t been there in almost a decade. And, says N.C. State University economist (and baseball fan) Mike Walden, there's also new blood in business. 

Nov 30, 2010

Wilson wins teaching award

Dr. Elizabeth B. Wilson, associate professor of agricultural and extension education in N.C. State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, received a 2010 Regional Teaching Award at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities 123rd Annual Meeting in Dallas. 

Nov 30, 2010

Costa Rica faculty visit Chatham farms

Two faculty members from University of Costa Rica recently visited farms in Chatham County in November, as part of an information exchange with scientists at N.C. State University and N.C. A&T State University. Photos of the visit are available on Debbie Roos's Growing Small Farms website. 

Nov 30, 2010

Negative interest rates

Normally we think of interest rates being a positive number. That is, if we borrow some money, we have to pay some interest rate on the loan -- meaning we’ll pay back more than we borrowed. Or if we invest, we expect to earn money -- that is, interest on my funds. But a new investment recently offered a negative interest rate. N.C. Cooperative Extension economist Mike Walden explains. 

Nov 29, 2010

Shifts in shopping

This recession has been especially hard on consumers by reducing their income and wealth. How has this double blow affected how consumers spend? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden responds. 

Nov 26, 2010

Fixing foreclosures

Home foreclosures are numbering in the millions today, with more likely coming. Why don’t the banks who own the mortgage on the home simply reduce or forgive a certain amount of the loan? Would reducing the payments to a level the homeowner could afford be a simple way out for everybody involved? N.C. State University extension economist Mike Walden weighs in. 

Nov 25, 2010

New tobacco uses

At one time tobacco was the dominant industry in North Carolina. It is still significant, but certainly less so than in the past. N.C. Cooperative Extension economist Mike Walden says that as smoking rates have declined, tobacco producers shifting to new uses for their products. 

Nov 24, 2010

YOU DECIDE: How can we forecast the economic future?

Economists are often asked to predict the economic future. But what's the best method of looking ahead? Mike Walden discusses different ways to assess the future.