Dee Shore

Jan 30, 2012

Facts and fictions about measuring unemployment

Some say that the unemployment rate is based on the number of people qualifying for unemployment compensation and that, therefore, once jobless workers stop collecting unemployment compensation they’re no longer counted as unemployed and, as a result, the real unemployment rate is much higher than the reported rate. But, as N.C. State University economist Mike Walden explains, that's not the case. 

Jan 27, 2012

What's the 2012 economic outlook?

Probably the most frequent question people are asking about 2012 is whether the economy will improve, and N.C. State University economist Mike Walden says he thinks it will. 

Jan 26, 2012

Keep your eye on the ECB

Many economists who are watching the European situation say any short-run solution to the European debt crisis must come from the European Central Bank at the center of the euro and the euro countries. So what does the ECB have to do? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden responds. 

Jan 25, 2012

Natural gas supplies

Natural gas was once a relatively minor fuel that attracted very little attention. Now it’s big news, and some claim it’s the fuel of the future. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden explains what’s changed. 

Jan 24, 2012

The coming commodity squeeze

Although everyone is focused on today’s challenging economy, it’s helpful to look ahead at some of the economic issues we will likely face down the road. Many experts say a big issue will be both the supply and price of basic commodities. What do they mean? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden explains. 

Jan 23, 2012

North Carolina jobs: lagging or waiting?

Since the job market bottomed out in early 2010, North Carolina has added jobs but at only one-third the rate of the nation. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden explains why. 

Jan 20, 2012

California thinking

California has been one of the states hardest hit by the recession, and the state continues to face severe budget problems. A commission, the Think Long Committee for California, has just issued their recommendations for changing the tax system in that state. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden considers whether any of the committee’s ideas are relevant for North Carolina. 

Jan 19, 2012

Who’s driving oil prices?

Oil prices are back near $100 a barrel, but it seems that people are being careful when it comes to how much they drive and putting a priority on fuel efficiency. Why aren’t we being rewarded for our good behavior with lower oil prices? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden answers. 

Jan 18, 2012

The ghost of Irving Fisher

Our economy is so large and so complex that understanding it requires some kind of paradigm or framework. But there can be many competing frameworks, which gives us many ways of looking at the economy. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden takes a look at a framework that has been revived – one proposed by long-departed economist Irving Fisher. 

Jan 17, 2012

Changing economic ideas

With all that’s happened in the economy during the last four years, are economists reassessing some of their basic ideas about how the economy works? N.C. State University professor Mike Walden, who has taught economics for more than one-third of a century, weighs in.