News

May 18, 2012

Can we stop high gas prices?

Gas prices are clearly hitting people in their wallets and pocketbooks. They also have to potential to stall the economy. Is there anything we can do to push prices down? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden responds. 

May 17, 2012

Unemployment confusion

Many people have questions about how unemployment and the unemployment rate are calculated each month. Issues have arisen about the tie-in to unemployment benefits -- whether self-employed workers and others are included. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden helps clear up the confusion. 

May 16, 2012

Student Perspectives: Justin Hills

Working in the laboratory of Dr. Rob Dunn has given N.C. State University biological sciences student Justin Hills insight into – and passion for – public health and science communication. This summer, he’s headed to Ghana to investigate liver cancer, a first step in his quest to help address health disparities that exist among different communities nationally and internationally. Hear more in this audio slideshow, with photos by Becky Kirkland, N.C. State University Communications. 

May 16, 2012

'Almanac Gardener' continues through September

“Almanac Gardener,” featuring North Carolina Cooperative Extension home horticulture experts, continues its season on WUNC-TV through September. 

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

YOU DECIDE: Is government getting larger or smaller?

With the record levels of spending, especially at the federal level, and sky-high government deficits and debts, how could anyone make the case that government has been shrinking? Mike Walden explains how.