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WNC Pulse

WNC PulseThe WNC Pulse provides a web-based platform that will give area stakeholders access to dynamic, real-time economic statistics as well as offering a comprehensive overview of services and sharing best practices in audio and video form.


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New from Dean Johnson & the WCU College of Business

Economic Outlook

Dean Ron Johnson of the College of Business at Western Carolina University has written a comprehensive report outlining future economic conditions for the United States in general - and the state of North Carolina in particular.

  • How deep and how long will the recession be?
  • What types of stimuli are best suited to speed up recovery?
  • How do we break the feedback loop between financial markets and the real economy?
  • How large will the North Carolina budget shortfall be?

These questions and more are answered in this illustrated report, available here in PDF format.

U.S. Economic Crisis

U.S. Economic Crisis: Insights & Reflections On October 7th, the College of Business at Western Carolina University held a symposium entitled, "U.S. Economic Crisis: Insights & Reflections", to discuss the ongoing global financial crisis. Four presentations were given by various College of Business faculty, concluding with a question and answer session with the audience.

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New: Forums

wcuhome.orgIn conjunction with Dr. Thompkin's Research Seminar Series, the IEF has created a web-based public forum for the discussion of both specific topics related to the Seminar Series and more general topics related to business and finance.

No registration is required to either view or post comments. Visit Forums..

Welcome to the IEF

IEF Mission

We promote economic community and policy development by enhancing public and private sector decision making to achieve sustainable prosperity and quality of life for all.

Western Carolina University’s Institute for the Economy and the Future(IEF) is a regional think tank with capacities for rigorous research, economic base analysis, issue polling and employment trend analysis. The IEF conducts economic policy analysis and applied research; and administers public service projects on economic and community capacity building and strategic development.

The IEF is multidisciplinary with faculty, students and staff from various academic departments. Senior Policy Fellows are selected to serve on one year or longer terms from the private sector and other academic institutions.

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IEF PodCasts

The Economic Crisis: Insights and Reflections
The Economic Crisis: Questions & Answers
COB: Research Seminar Series
2008 Economic Forecast
Bob Dunn/Improving the Odds

Map Animations

Population By County 1990 - 2008
Tract Population SQMI 2000-2012
Get Quicktime

Interactive Mapping Tools

Index of Mapping Tools Static and Dynamic Maps
Help for Interactive Mapping Tools
2013 Median Household Income Map
2008 County Housing Index (MHV/MHHI)
2008 Population Percentages by County for Ages 45-64
WNC Business Density
2008 Housing Index by US Census Tract
2008 NC Per Capita Personal Income by Geometrical Interval
NC County December 2008 Unemployment Rates

Sponsored Programs

The Office of Sponsored Program (OSP), under the direction of the IEF, partners with the WCU academic and administrative communities to achieve research and community development goals. While working to foster relationships with Federal, State, Foundation, and Corporate sponsors, OSP advances those WCU research, training and service activities promulgated by faculty and staff that benefit our region. OSP invites all WCU faculty and staff to consider our office for all grant seeking and post-award needs.

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Know Your Region Surges Forward

The “Know Your Region” project is designed to help economic development practitioners develop forward-thinking regional economic plans and discover the benefits of regional cooperation.

New content: a video case study on "Regional Collaboration Across State Lines"


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