Economic Perspective

Why North Carolina is doing better?

Tue, 13 May 2008 08:00:00 -0500

Many national observers of the housing market have noted that North Carolina's residential sector has held up better than housing markets in many other states. In particular, sales and prices haven't dropped as much. What accounts for our good fortune? Luck? Listen

Is there an end in sight to rising oil prices?

Mon, 12 May 2008 08:00:00 -0500

First, it was $19 a barrel, then $100 a barrel, and now $115 a barrel. There seems to be no end in sight to the rising oil prices. It's hard to believe oil prices have risen so far, so fast just because more people in the world are driving cars. What's going on with these crazy oil prices? Listen

Food price inflation

Fri, 09 May 2008 08:32:27 -0500

Food prices have been rising rapidly. Have we just become spoiled to low food prices or has something triggered the big jumps we're seeing at the grocery store? Listen

Cap and trade

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:14:34 -0500

"Cap and trade" is a new phrase we're hearing with regard to controlling pollution. It may be more complicated than an outright ban on pollutants. Can you give us a tutorial? Listen

The future of tech jobs

Wed, 07 May 2008 08:14:48 -0500

A recent report said jobs in the technology fields increased at a relatively slow rate last year, surprising many analysts. So what's happening with the industry? Listen

A forgotten price of hybrids

Tue, 06 May 2008 08:03:02 -0500

Many people see hybrid cars, which are partially fueled by electricity, as a way to reduce our dependency on foreign oil and help the environment. But economists are famous for recommending that we look beyond the obvious at second and third stage implications of an action. So what might this mean for hybrid vehicles? Listen

Is higher inflation a sure thing?

Mon, 05 May 2008 07:50:58 -0500

The news on inflation appears to be bad and getting worse. Prices for gas and food, certainly necessities for most people, have been sprinting upward. Some talk about the country moving into a period of stagflation or a nasty combination of recession and high inflation. Is there any good news to suggest that our inflation worries may be overstated? Listen

The financial panic of '07 - 1907

Fri, 02 May 2008 16:34:24 -0500

Some say a financial crisis has been ongoing in the country for the last two years. A similar crisis happened 100 years ago, and it set the stage for some of the institutions we have today to deal with these situations. Give us a history lesson. Listen

Are gas prices at an all-time high?

Thu, 01 May 2008 07:57:51 -0500

Gas prices just seem to keep going up and up and up. Surely we're at record levels for pump prices, but for an economist, there may be more to judging the level of gas prices than what we see. So go ahead, convince us we're not paying record prices. Listen

Are utilities different?

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:21:21 -0500

All of us are being asked to conserve resources, from water to electricity to natural gas. But now we hear something that seems both disturbing and inconsistent. Some providers of these resources say when use falls, they have to charge higher prices to stay in business. This doesn't seem fair or logical. Help us out. Listen

A win-win for government?

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0500

Often people look at government policies in a win-lose framework. Some group will gain from a particular policy, while other folks will lose. But is there ever a win-win outcome? Listen

Lucky stores

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0500

Now that North Carolina has a state lottery, here's a question: Do stores that sell a winning lottery ticket reap any long-run benefits, that is, do people consider such stores lucky? Listen

Regulating the financial system

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0500

In an attempt to contain the nation's financial problems, the Federal Reserve has been making available large amounts of credit to the banking system. Now there's a proposal to increase the oversight and regulations of the Federal Reserve over the entire financial system. But whatever happened to the notion that if you or I or a bank makes a bad investment, that person or business should just take their losses and learn from their mistake? Listen

The North Carolina revenue picture

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0500

It won't be too long before the North Carolina General Assembly returns to Raleigh. When legislators do arrive, what kind of public revenue picture will greet them? Listen

What's driving commodity prices?

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0500

Many economists have been surprised by the big runups in commodity prices, such as oil, metals and even gold. Typically during an economic slowdown, prices of these items retreat. What's different about today's commodity market? Listen