CSFE Blog
Professor Sean Mulholland became the CSFE Director in July 2022.![Meet Jackson Déziel](https://affiliate.wcu.edu/csfe/wp-content/uploads/sites/61/2020/11/35701_581136261552_1374771_n.jpg)
Meet Jackson Déziel
Earlier this week CSFE announced our 2020-21 Faculty Affiliates, all of whom we are very excited about working with during this coming year. Today, we want to highlight one of our affiliates, Assistant Professor and Director of the Emergency Medical Care program at...
![Introducing CSFE’s 2020-21 Faculty Affiliates](https://affiliate.wcu.edu/csfe/wp-content/uploads/sites/61/2020/11/pexels-anna-shvets-5682668-1080x675.jpg)
Introducing CSFE’s 2020-21 Faculty Affiliates
We are happy to introduce our CSFE Faculty Affiliates for 2020-21. Our goal with the Faculty Affiliates (FA) program is to gather the work of faculty and their students from various disciplines who are working on subjects related to our areas of support, especially...
![The importance of political institutions to human flourishing: New CSFE Issue Brief](https://affiliate.wcu.edu/csfe/wp-content/uploads/sites/61/2020/11/433946.jpg)
The importance of political institutions to human flourishing: New CSFE Issue Brief
At CSFE, our mission is to study the role of free enterprise in a flourishing society. Political institutions often take center stage in the analysis. Political institutions act like vital social infrastructure on which people build their lives. Elections provide for...
![Which political party is better for the economy?](https://affiliate.wcu.edu/csfe/wp-content/uploads/sites/61/2020/10/pexels-element-digital-1550343-1080x675.jpg)
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](https://affiliate.wcu.edu/csfe/wp-content/uploads/sites/61/2020/09/pexels-iconcom-733028.jpg)
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](https://affiliate.wcu.edu/csfe/wp-content/uploads/sites/61/2020/07/Picture1-copy-1080x675.png)
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?](https://affiliate.wcu.edu/csfe/wp-content/uploads/sites/61/2020/07/woman-in-white-long-sleeve-jacket-shopping-for-fruits-3962291.png)
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](https://affiliate.wcu.edu/csfe/wp-content/uploads/sites/61/2020/07/man-looking-at-liquor-bottles-2076748-scaled-e1595344304359-1080x675.jpg)
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?](https://affiliate.wcu.edu/csfe/wp-content/uploads/sites/61/2020/07/Picture5.png)
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....
Do spikes in COVID-19 cases lead to spikes in deaths?
One crucial question is whether spikes in new daily cases are followed by later spikes in hospitalizations and deaths. Many have expressed grave concern about this possibility. Former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb told Face the Nation last Sunday, “We’re right back...