News

Jan 5, 2012

Foegeding, Gould named AAAS Fellow

Dr. Allen Foegeding and Dr. Fred Gould have been named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). 

Jan 5, 2012

Charitable giving and the economy

Many programs to assist households who face various problems rely on direct giving by people in businesses. And N.C. State University economist Mike Walden says a struggling economy adversely affects this giving. 

Jan 4, 2012

Local economic performance and debt

One way of looking at the current economy is that it’s the reverse image of a decade ago. Then, rising home values allowed households to increase both their debt and spending. Now, with home values lower, many families have had to tighten their belts and become much more frugal spenders. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden looks at evidence supporting this viewpoint. 

Jan 3, 2012

Students' State Fair garden earns Commissioner's Award

What started as a learning opportunity for a landscape class at N.C. State University resulted in some new, permanent landscape features for the State Fair’s garden area. The effort also received the Commissioner’s Award for the fair’s garden area this year. 

Jan 3, 2012

A&T Grassroots Leadership Conferences focus on economic empowerment

The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Program based at N.C. A&T State University is hosting three Grassroots Leadership Conferences entitled, "Economic Empowerment: Entrepreneurship, Money Management and Workforce Development." The conferences, beginning Feb. 21, will be offered in each of the three Extension Program regions. 

Jan 3, 2012

Cultures and currencies

The European countries of the euro zone have been struggling over just how to continue to support that currency. Are their problems simply due to their large degree of diversity in fiscal affairs? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden weighs in. 

Jan 2, 2012

The wealth recession

Everyone who looks at the economy is trying to decide why it’s still sluggish and has not responded to the stimulus that the federal government provided. Is there an easy answer? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden shares his opinion. 

Dec 26, 2011

Weight and wages

There’s no doubt we, as a people, have become heavier. Both obesity rates and overweight rates are at record levels. Is there any evidence to suggest that a person’s weight has any impact on what they earn by working? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden responds. 

Dec 23, 2011

Prices and poverty

It’s easy to assume that most people pay the same prices for products and services they buy. In fact, this assumption is implicit in comparing how standards of living for different households change over time. But is it really accurate to say we all pay the same prices? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden responds. 

Dec 22, 2011

Demography and income inequality

The differences in income among various groups of households is of keen interest today, but before we make conclusions about these differences, says N.C. State University economist Mike Walden, it's important to look beneath the surface at underlying factors that may contribute to those differences.