Labor shortage teaches policy lessons
Hickory has a labor shortage. Given our state’s recent economic history, that claim may sound incredible. But it’s true. Not so long ago, the metropolitan area anchored by Hickory, Morganton, and... Read More
NC Spin Articles
Just say No
The easiest way to push back against NC’s rogue General Assembly is to vote against all six proposed constitutional amendments Like Congress and most modern American state legislatures, the North... Read More
School test scores
This spring, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction declared ‘NC holds steady on most measures of national assessment.’ The assessment in question was the 2017 version of the National... Read More
More division to come
A recent article in the Washington Post notes that in about 20 years, 70% of the population will live in just 15 states. Half the population will live in eight. North Carolina is one of those eight... Read More
Push back on budget deficits
Right after the 2016 elections, I observed that the combination of Donald Trump’s rise and continuing GOP strength across the landscape of American politics had yielded three distinct Republican... Read More
Gasoline Horses
North Carolina’s live horse population is over 300,000. Live horses are a significant agricultural industry. The infrastructure supporting live horses includes: buyers and sellers; the land on... Read More
The most important counties in NC politics today
Everyone loves lists, and the internet age now has us addicted to them — the top-five greatest tennis grand-slam finals between left-handers, the top 10 best-looking spouses of celebrity chefs, etc... Read More
Wheel of politics always turns
In politics, the karma may not be instant — but it will get you, sooner or later. Want examples? Just check out the political headlines of the past few weeks. Anthony Kennedy, the sometime-swing... Read More
Is North Carolina keeping up with other states?
by Dr. Mike Walden, NCSU Professor of Economics, July 6, 2018 My late father once told me the story about his first flight in an airplane during World War II. His unit of CBs — short for... Read More
Was Trump's 2016 good for Democrats this year?
I thought I was so smart back in 2016 when I wrote that Democrats, who were confident they would defeat Donald Trump, should be pulling for him to win. A Trump win, I explained, could be a good thing... Read More
