Center for the Study of Free Enterprise
Dedicated to providing economics research and education to the students, faculty, and community of Western Carolina University. Our WorkFor Students
Scholarships, fellowships, post-baccalaureate opportunities, and educational lectures for students.
For Faculty
Information, tools, classroom materials, and lesson plans for educational professionals of all levels.
For the Community
Grants for individuals hoping to advance economic understanding through peer-reviewed research and public promotion.
Director’s Blog
Thoughts from our Founding Director, Dr. Edward Lopez, and invited contributors.
Which political party is better for the economy?
Which political party is better for the economy? Well, from a social science perspective that's not exactly the right question. But WalletHub asked the question and posted this feature article on the effects of different political parties on stock prices, jobs,...
Changing spending priorities when revenues decline: Evidence from North Carolina counties
CSFE Faculty Affiliate Marco Lam has a new study published in Political Economies in the Carolinas under the title "Sticky Expenditures in Local Governments: Evidence from North Carolina Counties." The study looks into the spending behavior of North Carolina county...
There’s something interesting happening with North Carolina’s case numbers
There's something interesting happening with North Carolina's new coronavirus cases. The pattern was different in June than it has been so far in July, and we may be seeing the early signs of cases subsiding. 1. First, notice the sharp hi-lo weekly cycle in the data....
How Restrictive Are North Carolina’s COVID-19 Policies?
WalletHub released the latest edition of its 50-state ranking on restrictive COVID-19 policies. Many of the variables used in the study are heavily controversial in public discourse, including masking and school opening. Each of the many variables the authors cram...
WNC breweries seeing impact of can shortage
A perfect storm is brewing for beer producers in the form of short supply vs. high demand when it comes to packaging their products. Manufacturers of aluminum cans used for canning beer and soft drinks are in overdrive trying to keep pace with increased demand. A...
Why are recoveries increasing in the Sunbelt, especially in North Carolina?
In a new study as part of CSFE's COVID-19 research initiative, with co-authors Stephen Miller and Craig Richardson, we find that surging cases in Sunbelt states are not leading to surging hospitalizations or deaths. If anything, the growth rate of deaths is declining....
What’s New
Which political party is better for the economy?
Which political party is better for the economy? Well, from a social science perspective that's not exactly the right question. But WalletHub asked the question and posted this feature article on...
Changing spending priorities when revenues decline: Evidence from North Carolina counties
CSFE Faculty Affiliate Marco Lam has a new study published in Political Economies in the Carolinas under the title "Sticky Expenditures in Local Governments: Evidence from North Carolina Counties."...
Wrap up of Davis — Cawthorn Debate
The march to Washington for NC District 11 Congressional candidates Moe Davis and Madison Cawthorn made a stop Saturday night at WCU for the second of two scheduled forums hosted by local media. The...
Grant to fund COVID-19 economic impact study
The Center for the Study of Free Enterprise's research on the economic impacts of COVID-19 got a boost recently thanks to a grant from the NC Policy Collaboratory. The $109,000 grant will enable the...