Opinion
Which is wealthier: Germany or NC?
Among the European Union countries with lower GDPs per capita than North Carolina’s are Germany, the Netherlands, France, Sweden, Italy, and Spain.
Opinion
Some good end-of-the-year news. But will it last?
There’s been some good economic news as we end 2023. Gas prices are down almost 60 cents per gallon since September. Thanksgiving meals were more affordable due to a 20% drop in turkey prices compared to 2022. The all-item inflation rate continues to moderate, and the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) has not raised their key interest...
Opinion
If inflation subsides, is everything OK?
Most surveys show inflation is one of the top issues in the country. For several months the inflation rate has been hovering just shy of double-digits on a year-over-year basis. But what if the Federal Reserve is successful in reducing the inflation rate? Does this mean we’re fine? What if, for example, this time next...
Opinion
Take a walk on the sunny side
For the vast majority of people you know — indeed, for the vast majority of people on our planet — their ancestors never had it so good. On the whole, we are healthier, wealthier, happier, and freer than ever before.
Opinion
Obama Administration Does Well
It is impossible to have meaningful discussions about policy issues until we first have a common frame of reference.
Opinion
It’s Not Just Obama’s Fault
The causes of the great economic slowdown are complex and often outside the purview of public policy.
Opinion
Productive Take on Economic Policy
If you look at industry sectors merely as engines for job creation, you may see agriculture and manufacturing as sources of frustration.
Opinion
Have a Coke and a Smile
One of the most underappreciated assets in politics happens to be widely appreciated as an asset in virtually every other field of human endeavor: optimism.
Opinion
Poverty Isn’t What It Used to Be
Poverty isn’t a disease you catch or the product of exploitation by the capitalist class. It is strongly associated with a failure to build human capital.
Opinion
Flashback: This Side of Paradise
Should we be completely satisfied with the amount of progress? Of course not. There’s always room for improvement. But should we be happy about it? Absolutely.
Opinion
This Side of Paradise
Should we be completely satisfied with the amount of progress? Of course not. There’s always room for improvement. But should we be happy about it? Absolutely.
Opinion
No. 963 Is It Easy To Measure Progress?
With talk of recession in the air, we’re seeing more stories about whether households have really gotten ahead, economically speaking, in recent years. Some analysis shows the average household’s wages and income have actually retreated this decade. Some say this has been the situation for longer than three decades.
