Author: Dee Shore

Dec 7, 2012

The up, down and up of housing

There’s finally some optimism about the housing market as prices, sales and construction have all begun to rebound. But how far does housing have to go to get back to where it was? And will it ever get back to that level? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden responds. 

Dec 6, 2012

Union County 4-H’ers light up lives of area seniors

Union County 4-H’ers have been spending time off from school installing water-saving aerators and energy-saving light bulbs and water-heater blankets in the homes of area senior citizens. In return, they’ve gotten plenty of hugs, as well as lessons in community service, leadership and energy conservation. 

Dec 6, 2012

Suffering from a cost disease

There are certain parts of our economy -- such as health care and education -- where prices seem to be rising consistently faster than in other sectors. Is there a fundamental economic reason behind this? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden responds. 

Dec 5, 2012

Growing green

The loss of burley tobacco production and a glut in the Christmas tree market delivered a one-two punch to rural Madison County in recent years, but North Carolina Cooperative Extension and partner Madison Family Farms are helping the agricultural industry rebound through a grant-funded project aimed at opening up retail markets for locally produced Christmas trees and wreaths. 

Dec 5, 2012

Guaranteeing jobs

Jobs continue to be the country’s number one economic concern. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden discusses a bold but simple plan another economist has offered for increasing jobs. 

Dec 4, 2012

N.C. State scientists work to stop the spread of boxwood blight

Since colonial days, the boxwood has been an important part of American gardens and landscapes. Research from N.C. State University is designed to help keep it that way, in spite of the threat to the plant posed by a disease new to the United States. 

Dec 4, 2012

Where do we go from here?

The country has voted, and now the discussion is about the public issues to be addressed in the upcoming years. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden is asked to use his crystal ball to predict those key issues and debates. 

Dec 3, 2012

Defining tax changes

Tax reform may be on the agenda of both our new national- and state-elected office holders. When someone talks about changing taxes, are they only talking about changing tax rates? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden responds. 

Nov 30, 2012

Will we fall off the fiscal cliff?

Will we fall off the fiscal cliff? Now that the election is over, Washington’s attention has turned to something called the fiscal cliff. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden describes what it is and why it matters. “Well, there’s been a lot of discussion on this … . It’s really the result of a failure of the Congress and the president last year (2011) to reach a budget deal. So what they did is they said, ‘Look, we’re going to set up a trap in some sense. If we don’t reach a budget deal in another year, we’re going to … have a lot of bad things really happen quickly, and that’s going to give us motivation to really get to a deal. “And so what these bad things will be if, at the end of 2012, a deal’s not reached is several taxes will go up, hitting virtually everyone in the country, as well as federal spending will go down. “Now we can debate whether, long run, that’s what we want to have happen in the federal government -- and some say that’s exactly what we want to have happen -- but what concerns economists is the suddenness of this and the size of the changes will be all at once, and that’s the where the term cliff comes from. “And many, many economic analysts shows that if we did see this happen -- that is, the increase in tax rates combined with the cut federal spending -- we would see the economy shrink at least for a quarter, at least for the first three months of 2013. Unemployment would go up. … More people would be put out of work. And of course no one wants that to happen. “So, this is why many think that a compromise will eventually be reached. A deal will be reached, but obviously we’ll have to wait and see.” 

Nov 29, 2012

What is entrepreneurship?

Entrepreneurship is one of those $50 words related to business and the economy. In fact, in one of the presidential debates, it was used several times. But what does it mean? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden explains.