Center for the Study of Free Enterprise
Dedicated to providing economics research and education to the students, faculty, and community of Western Carolina University. 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
Thoughts from our Founding Director, Dr. Edward Lopez, and invited contributors.
Want to Understand the Inflation Problem? Look to Harvey Road, Not Pennsylvania Avenue
Want to Understand the Inflation Problem? Look to Harvey Road, Not Pennsylvania Avenue By Peter T. Calcagno and Edward J. Lopez As news headlines have reported, the US economy today suffers its worst inflation in two generations. Not coincidentally, US public debt is...
Meet Betsy Butner
Continuing with highlighting our 2021-22 Faculty, Student, and Graduate Affiliates, we are happy to introduce one of our Graduate Affiliates, Betsy Butner. Graduating from the Master of Social Work Program in May, Betsy is rounding out her collegiate career that began...
Meet Libby Weitkamp
Last week, our content marketing specialist, Allie Todd, sat down with CSFE’s newest Student Affiliate, Libby Weitkamp, to talk to her about her academic career at WCU and work with CSFE Director, Edward Lopez. From Wake Forest, North Carolina, Libby graduated from...
Scaled-Up Seminar and Networks of Researchers in the Southeast
Last weekend, the Center hosted our 5th annual Scaled-Up Seminar in Asheville. Scaled-Up Seminar gathers economics researchers from within driving distance of WCU to present current research and provide mutual feedback. This year, 27 researchers from 20 different...
Is now a good time to be optimistic?
Is now a good time to be optimistic? Amidst economic malaise, political turmoil, and public health disasters, Americans on average have become more pessimistic about the future. Recent Gallup polls, for example, show that U.S. adults have in recent weeks become more...
Meet Heidi Dent
Heidi is an assistant professor of marketing in WCU's College of Business. Prior to arriving at Western, she worked in industry for 25 years. In April 2020, she finished her Doctorate in Business Administration from Jacksonville University after selling the company...
Meet Craig Richardson
Happy fall, everyone. We want to begin to introduce the newest Faculty Affiliates of our 2021-22 cohort. Last week, CSFE Content Marketing Specialist, Allie Todd, talked with Faculty Affiliate Craig Richardson about his work as director of the Center for the Study of...
Catching up with Tyler Tarbet
We occasionally use this blog to catch up with our former students who are now on to great things. Today, we are “Catching up with Tyler Tarbet.” Tyler is a 2018 graduate of Western Carolina University who majored in computer information systems and minored in...
Introducing CSFE’s Human Progress Research Initiative, and Calling 21-22 Faculty & Student Affiliates
What counts as economic progress in our region? That question is near and dear to so many, especially as we all continue adapting to pandemic disruptions. So, this year CSFE is launching a year-long research project combining different perspectives from various...
Broadband investment would mean billions to NC, but there’s a holdup: Utility poles
To be included in today’s digital world, all North Carolinians need access to reliable, high-speed broadband. Yet, today nearly 472,000 in our state – primarily in rural communities – remain without broadband access, limiting their options to work, learn, pray,...