2014

Feb 21, 2014

Disappearing banks

Host Mary Walden fondly remembers opening her first bank account. She asks about the issue of disappearing banks – why are there fewer banks today? Her husband, N.C. State University economist Mike Walden, says there are reasons why there are fewer brick-and-mortar banks today. 

Feb 20, 2014

The two Es of investing

Host Mary Walden thinks of understanding investing and investment markets as a lifetime endeavor, and that's why she's attracted to investment ideas that make sense and are clear. Her husband, N.C. State University economist Mike Walden, says that one such idea is called the two Es of investing. 

Feb 20, 2014

Raulston Blooms & Birds: a garden festival for all ages

Featuring the JC Raulston Arboretum’s annual plant sale, bird house competition displays, gardening demonstrations, children’s activities, local arts and crafts vendors, gourmet food trucks and more, the Raulston Blooms & Birds Garden Festival will be held Sat., April 5, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the JC Raulston Arboretum (JRCA). 

Feb 19, 2014

Does uncertainty hurt the economy?

Often if business investment is down and consumers aren't spending enough, one of reasons given is uncertainty. But what exactly is economic uncertainty? And do we have any hard evidence on how it affects the economy? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden responds. 

Feb 19, 2014

Extension Visioning Team continues its work

The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service (NCCES) Strategic Vision & Planning Initiative continues to make significant strides in 2014. In January, the organization’s Visioning Team, made up of about 50 Extension employees, county government partners and volunteer leaders, gathered in Browns Summit to review and synthesize the input from 14 recent public listening sessions and online comments. 

Feb 18, 2014

New estimates of teacher impacts

An ongoing debate about the effectiveness and importance of teachers on student performance is topic of the upcoming N.C State University Emerging Issues Forum. University economist Mike Walden discusses a study that could add to the discussion. 

Feb 17, 2014

What’s behind the export boom?

When President Barack Obama was in North Carolina recently to announce a new innovation lab at N.C. State University, he mentioned the importance of exports to a prospering economy. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden outlines how are we doing in this aspect of international trade. 

Feb 14, 2014

Rising consumer confidence

As N.C. State University economist Mike Walden says, the major keys to the economy are jobs, household income and spending. His wife, Mary, who studied psychology at college, asks how people's feelings about the economy play in their economic decisions. 

Feb 14, 2014

You Decide: Why is unemployment still so high?

Economist Mike Walden says there is good news and bad news about the North Carolina job market. More jobs have been created in recent years, but there are still thousands of North Carolinians who don’t have jobs and want to work. 

Feb 13, 2014

Is the health-care sector slowing?

For decades one sector we could count on for growth was health care. But today there are some signs that that is changing. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden explains what's happening.