Clocking In Podcast

Episode-Special 01

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When people talk about the general economy and the economics surrounding the manufacturing industry, we may get lost in all the technical and jargon-riddled analysis. We want answers, but due to the variable nature of the economy and especially the manufacturing industry, that might not be so easy. But what we can do is talk to someone who can simplify the most complicated economic concepts and current events. That’s why I sat down with the guy who has the scoop, N.C. State University economist Dr. Michael Walden.

Dr. Walden is a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor and Extension Economist at North Carolina State University and a member of the Graduate Economics faculty with The Poole College of Management. His Ph.D. degree is from Cornell University and he has been at N.C. State since 1978.

Dr. Walden has teaching, research and extension responsibilities at NC State in the areas of consumer economics, economic outlook and public policy. He has published eleven books and over 300 articles and reports, including the books North Carolina in the Connected Age and North Carolina Beyond the Connected Age: The Tar Heel State in 2050 in 2017, both published by the UNC Press.

As a result of his extensive expertise, Dr. Walden has a bird’s-eye view on various economic outcomes. I was eager to pick his brain about the issues that matter to us as North Carolinians and especially for those in the manufacturing sector.

In this episode of Clocking In, Dr. Walden explains, in layman’s terms, the current state of our national economy, the condition North Carolina Manufacturing is currently in, the ongoing trade war and more.

Links

• NCMEP
• Michael Walden
• IES

About

Phil Mintz

Phil Mintz is the executive director of NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) and director of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP). At NCMEP, Phil drives outreach to NC manufacturers, builds relationships with federal and state leaders and coordinates efforts to drive profitable manufacturing growth in the state. He also leads the broader IES extension operations outreach unit of regional managers, technical specialists and business development leaders providing business engagement, assessment and improvement tools. This includes statewide peer networks, ISO 9000 quality management systems, Six Sigma, Lean manufacturing, environmental services, and health and safety solutions.

Dr. Michael Walden

Dr. Michael Walden is a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor and Extension Economist at North Carolina State University and a member of the Graduate Economics faculty with The Poole College of Management. His Ph.D. degree is from Cornell University and he has been at N.C. State since 1978. He has also been a Visiting Professor at Duke University. He has served on several local and state level commissions. He currently teaches ARE 201 Introduction to Agricultural and Resource Economics.