Author: Dee Shore

May 16, 2012

Solving TBTF

The issue of TBTF -- or too big to fail -- is at the crux of our recent recession. The recession threatened our financial system and led to government help for many bank and financial institutions, but critics say the expectation of this government backstop motivated many in the financial sector to take big risks and this behavior contributed to the recession in the first place. Is there an easy way to resolve this issue? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden answers. 

May 15, 2012

Landscape professional field day

Rain gardens, plant installation techniques, weed and insect management and more are on the agenda for N.C. State University's Landscape Professional Field Day on May 16 at the JC Raulston Arboretum. 

May 15, 2012

How low can the unemployment rate go?

The unemployment rate is finally going in the right direction -- down. But it is still uncomfortably high, being over 8 percent nationally and higher than 9 percent in North Carolina. Do economists have any estimates of just how far the rate can be pushed down? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden responds. 

May 14, 2012

Re-shoring

The term off-shoring refers to U.S. companies moving jobs to foreign countries to take advantage of lower labor costs, but now there’s a new term: re-shoring. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden discusses the term and what it means for U.S. jobs. 

May 11, 2012

Net job changes

Recently the numbers in job creation reports have been encouraging, showing national gains of 100,000 to 200,000 jobs monthly, but at the same time, several large companies have announced layoffs. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden explains how these two things can be happening at once. 

May 10, 2012

Where the jobs are

There’s been some recent optimism about the job market. Employment at both the national and state levels has been trending upward. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden takes a look at the specific industries creating these jobs. 

May 9, 2012

State cost of living differences

With rising gas and other prices, people are very concerned with the cost of living. But does the money it takes to live differ by where you live? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden answers. 

May 8, 2012

Leaving the workforce

There’s an argument stating the official unemployment rate understates true unemployment because it doesn’t account for people who have simply stopped looking for work and, therefore, aren’t counted as jobless. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden considers whether this argument has merit. 

May 7, 2012

Cost of raising a child

Each year the government develops updated estimates of the cost of raising a child from birth to age 18. New numbers are out, and N.C. State University economist Mike Walden explains what they show. 

May 4, 2012

Unfunded liabilities

There’s some serious concern about this $16 trillion national debt, but some say the reported debt is only a relatively small part of the government’s future commitments. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden explains.