January 2012

Jan 11, 2012

N.C. MarketReady announces 2012 equipment funding cycle

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – The North Carolina Value-Added Cost Share (NCVACS) program, administered by N.C. MarketReady, is now accepting applications for the 2012 equipment cost share funding cycle. The program, funded by the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, provides up to $50,000 to agricultural producers and processors seeking to purchase specialized equipment to start or grow a value-added operation. 

Jan 11, 2012

Marginal decision making

Economics is a discipline about helping people, businesses and governments make decisions about the best use of their resources. To make better decisions, do economists recommend the complete remake, or baby steps? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden responds. 

Jan 10, 2012

CALS grad leads People's Garden program

CALS grad Livia Marques leads the U.S. Department of Agriculture's popular and growing People's Garden Program. 

Jan 10, 2012

The new wealth report

Every quarter the Federal Reserve releases an update on the wealth situation for households. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden gives highlights from the latest report. 

Jan 9, 2012

Importer to exporter

For a long time the United States has been dependent on other countries for our energy needs, bBut there are indications that this is slowly changing. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden explains. 

Jan 6, 2012

YOU DECIDE: What are the big economic issues?

There will be much discussion about economics in this election year. But what are the economic themes at the root of these discussions and differences? 

Jan 6, 2012

Health care spending and poverty

The Census Bureau has developed a new poverty measure that accounts for how households spend their money. Spending on necessities like healthcare is now recognized. How does this change affect the poverty numbers? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden explains. 

Jan 5, 2012

Foegeding, Gould named AAAS Fellow

Dr. Allen Foegeding and Dr. Fred Gould have been named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). 

Jan 5, 2012

Charitable giving and the economy

Many programs to assist households who face various problems rely on direct giving by people in businesses. And N.C. State University economist Mike Walden says a struggling economy adversely affects this giving. 

Jan 4, 2012

Local economic performance and debt

One way of looking at the current economy is that it’s the reverse image of a decade ago. Then, rising home values allowed households to increase both their debt and spending. Now, with home values lower, many families have had to tighten their belts and become much more frugal spenders. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden looks at evidence supporting this viewpoint.