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Fears of deflation

Economic Perspective

Aug 4, 2010

Getting home sales back up

After some good months home sales seem to have slipped again. Nationally sales are still off by double-digit rates compared to before the recession. What's it going to take to get home sales back up? Dr. Mike Walden, North Carolina Cooperative Extension economist in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at N.C. State University, responds. 

Aug 3, 2010

Did it happen before?

People are tired of the recession. And even though economists say things have improved, they don't appear to be improving very fast. Is there any precedent for this in previous recessions? Dr. Mike Walden, North Carolina Cooperative Extension economist in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at N.C. State University, responds. 

Aug 2, 2010

Is the Federal Reserve being too easy?

The Federal Reserve wields a lot of power behind the scenes. To combat the recession, the Fed has kept key interest rates low and made it easy for banks to borrow money. Yet some say this generous policy might now be hurting the economy. How so? Dr. Mike Walden, North Carolina Cooperative Extension economist in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at N.C. State University, responds. 

Jul 30, 2010

Do We Need Another Stimulus?

Although there have been some positive signs in the economy we still have big problems -- not the least of which is high unemployment. This has led some observers to say we need another government stimulus plan. Are they right? Dr. Mike Walden, North Carolina Cooperative Extension economist in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at N.C. State University, responds. 

Jul 29, 2010

You Decide: Are we still competitive?

To many, the recession of the last two years is a symptom of a larger economic problem in the nation -- that we just can't compete anymore. Economist Mike Walden comments on that viewpoint in his latest You Decide column. 

Jul 29, 2010

Controlling gas prices

Many people would like to see gas prices controlled by either federal or state government. They think gas prices are too vital to most household budgets to allow them to go to lofty levels. What would be the economics of such an idea? Dr. Mike Walden, North Carolina Cooperative Extension economist in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at N.C. State University, responds. 

Jul 14, 2010

Fears of deflation

When most of us worry about prices, we are concerned about them going up — that is, we are worried about inflation. But should we also fear the opposite: prices…