Arts economy extends beyond film
The state legislature regularly draws fire for its decision to end an old, very generous tax break for film and TV production and replace it with a smaller, more-targeted grant program. Industry... Read More
NC Spin Articles
Transparent doesn't mean invisible
It seems like all public officials celebrate transparency, until it applies to them. Case in point: Gov. Roy Cooper, who (years ago as attorney general) wrote the introduction to the North Carolina... Read More
North Carolina thrives on trade
Tariffs are taxes. They have always been. So when President Donald Trump announced plans to impose costly tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum into the United States, he was threatening to raise... Read More
Lawmakers' work is ongoing, and there's nothing secret about it
The state legislature adjourned the 2017 long session June 29. They were done, right? Expected back all afresh and new in spring of 2018 after a long break of doing nothing? Not exactly. They... Read More
Statistically, we don't care about our children
I have yet to read a serious study concluding that single parent homes raise better children than homes with both biological parents. Described another way, "Homes with the Mom and Dad raise better... Read More
Will the national debt sink us?
by Mike Walden, NC State Professor of Economics, March 2, 2018. When I take questions after the scores of presentations I make across the state each year, there is one question I can always count on... Read More
Taxes do have their benefit
Before the advent of the automobile — and thus before the advent of car and gas taxes to fund surface transportation — North Carolina and other states had public roads. They were built by... Read More
Protecting our investments in North Carolina
Becki Gray, John Locke Foundation and NC SPIN panelist, March 1, 2018 Protecting our investments means taking care of what we own. As state taxpayers, we own a lot of stuff — office, school and... Read More
My party, tragically, is beholden to the NRA
There was once a time when the Republican Party – my party – was identified with lower taxes, smaller government, strong national defense and respect for law enforcement. But 18 years into the... Read More
Voluntary action does public good
In this politically polarized moment in our history, what unites us? Surely one value nearly all of us have in common is a belief in the importance and power of donating our time, expertise, and... Read More
