Center for the Study of Free Enterprise
CSFE BlogResearch Reports
Evidence-based issue briefs in areas of economic development, applied research, and free enterprise.
Our People
Faculty, students, and staff from across campus working on issues important in their disciplines and to the communities in our region.
Our Work
Integrating the work of faculty and students with needs in the community where they are greatest.
What’s New
Diana Esters wins 1st Place!
The Center for the Study of Free Enterprise wants to congratulate Diana Esters (middle) for earning 1st place in the undergraduate research poster session at the 49th annual Meeting of the Association of Private Enterprise Education in Guatemala City for her project...
Tryston Weiss Presents His Undergraduate Research Paper at the Eastern Economic Association Conference
On Saturday, February 22, 2025, Tryston Weiss presented his paper, "Trapped by Design: Redlining and the Cycle of Poverty in the US Cities" at the Issues in Political Economy Undergraduate research sessions at the Eastern Economic Association Meetings in New York...
Campus Wide Discussion: What should be done about the lack of affordable housing in Western North Carolina?
Housing in Western North Carolina is expensive. Surprisingly expensive. Those from other parts of the country often assume that because Western North Carolina (WNC) is rural, housing is inexpensive. Residents know otherwise. On February 11th the CSFE along with the...
Campus-wide debate No. 1 on the 2024 Election was a success!
On September 25th, the Center for the Study of Free Enterprise, Braver Angels, and the College Debate and Discourse Alliance cohosted a debate on the resolution: Is Donald Trump a threat to democracy? Over 95 students, faculty, and staff offered their views in support...
Human Rights Violations and US Military Intervention: A Campus-Wide Debate
On March 26th, over 40 students gathered to discuss whether - and when - human rights violations justify U.S. military intervention. Four students kicked off the debate by presenting two speeches in the affirmative and two speeches in the negative. Students discussed...
Joseph Duty Presents His Undergraduate Research Paper at the Eastern Economic Association Conference
On Friday, February 21, 2025, Joseph Duty presented his paper on the “Unintended Consequences: How the Different Implementations of Colonial Property Systems by the Spanish Effect Latin American Economic Development Today” at the Issues in Political Economy...
Graduate Spotlight: Diana Esters (WCU 2024)
We are always excited to highlight outstanding student-scholars who have played a vital role in Center's projects and events. Diana Esters is a perfect example of such a student-scholar. In the fall of 2023, Diana was selected for the gift-funded, seminar class: Lunch...
Kevin Lavery Presents His Research Paper at the Eastern Economic Association Conference
On Saturday, February 22, 2025, Kevin Lavery presented his paper, "State Mandates on Sex Education and their Correlates to a Reduction in the Rate of Forcible Rape" in a faculty session at the Eastern Economic Association Meetings in New York City. Kevin’s paper...
What should be done about the lack of affordable housing in the Western NC region?
On Tuesday, February 11th, The CSFE welcomed back the College Debates and Discourse Alliance’s Kayla Johnson to serve as our discussion leader on the topic: What should be done about the lack of affordable housing in the Western NC region? This is the first ABCD...
Is a vote for a third-party candidate a wasted vote?
Election Day is less than two weeks away. As of Oct. 4, 2024, polls showed that 46.5% had an unfavorable opinion of Kamala Harris and 52.6% felt unfavorably toward Donald Trump. So, what about voting for a Presidential candidate from a different party? On Wednesday,...