Our Work

Research, partnerships, and project support are just a few ways we're making an impact.
 

Speaker Series

Free and open to the public, we aim to give our community the chance to explore all points of view on issues of the day. We offer a forum for the campus and community to hear from renowned experts and understand multiple perspectives through civil, informed, and fruitful discourse.

Free Enterprise Speaker Series >>

Distinguished Lecture Series >>

Economics Education

As part of our mission to serve the community, we provide educators in WNC with professional development opportunities and in-classroom resources to help them teach financial and economics education to the next generation of scholars. 

Economics Education Resources >>

Upcoming Events >>

NC Data Dashboard

Our new, online information tool designed to provide easy access to recent economic trends in the counties of Western North Carolina and across the entire state to everyone from community-minded residents and college students conducting research to industry and business executives exploring possible locations for expansion.

NC Data Dashboard >>

Supported Research and Issue Briefs

In support of our mission to provide economics research and thought leadership focused on issues in economic development in our region, we sponsor students, faculty and community members in their scholarly pursuits. Through scholarly inquiry and policy analysis, we hope to fulfill our desire to be an interdisciplinary forum that supports Western Carolina University faculty, students, and community members to exchange ideas, engage in mutual outreach, and collaborate on applied research.

Our Research

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events at this time.

Previous Events

“Federal Tax Reform: Good Enough? Far Enough? Fair Enough?”

Apr 16, 2017

Join us for the next installment of Western Carolina University’s Free Enterprise Speaker Series sponsored by the Center for Free Enterprise. Two guest speakers, Amity Shlaes and Roy Cordato will look at the fairness of federal tax reform from 5:00- 6:15 p.m. Monday,...

In The News

Free Enterprise Speaker Series hosting documentary, discussion

Nov 13, 2018

Western Carolina University’s Free Enterprise Speaker Series will host the documentary “Bus Stop Jobs” and hold an open discussion about poverty and economic mobility in North Carolina on Monday, Nov. 12, at 5 p.m. in the A.K. Hinds University Center theater. The...