Commentary/Opinion
Economic Growth Brings Lifestyle Change
By John Hood RALEIGH — In the second quarter of 2025, the most recent measurement available, North Carolina’s gross domestic product reached $883.6 billion — the highest number ever, even…
Liberty And Generosity Form Virtuous Circle
By John Hood RALEIGH — In places where governments are smaller, taxes are lower, regulations are lighter, and property rights are more secure, people tend to be more generous, trustful,…
Property Tax Merits Reform, Not Repeal
By John Hood RALEIGH — North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) had created a 23-member select committee to evaluate potential reforms of the state’s property-tax system. That is a…
Do Sternly Worded Letters Win Wars?
By John Hood RALEIGH — It was 250 years ago this week that a displaced governor issued a proclamation intended to restore him to power in North Carolina. Instead, it…
Bookstore Rebirth Teaches A Crucial Lesson
By John Hood RALEIGH — One benefit of getting married on New Year’s Eve is that our anniversary is unlikely to slip my mind. If you doubt my capacity to…
Letter To The Editor: Reality TV And Foreign Policy
In our society, being famous is a goal unto itself. You can become famous, and even be called an influencer, with no particular skill other than self-promotion. I don’t mean…
Opinion: When Think Tanks Lose Their Way
By John Hood RALEIGH — Think tank is a funny term for a serious enterprise. For more than a century — the first one was the Brookings Institution, founded in…
You Decide: Which Kevin Will Win?
By Mike Walden There’s a new battle going on between two individuals named Kevin. No, they are not boxers, nor are they involved in any sport. Instead, they are competing…
The White Christmas No One Wanted
By John Hood RALEIGH — Two hundred and fifty years ago this week, thousands of Carolinians were trudging through deep snow. They weren’t in search of Christmas trees, or heading…
Hunt’s Pragmatism Served Our State Well
By John Hood RALEIGH — North Carolina is one of America’s most contested electoral battlegrounds. It has been for generations. It is also home to one of the most successful…
D.G. Martin Was A Class Act
By John Hood RALEIGH — In 1984, the first year I was eligible to vote, North Carolina had 11 congressional districts. Most were hotly contested by the majority-party Democrats and…
You Decide: Should You Be Smiling Or Frowning At 2026?
By Mike Walden It’s that time of year for economists to emerge and present their economic forecasts. Some say it’s like the economic version of Groundhog Day. Will economists see…
