The Charlotte Ledger
The Charlotte Ledger Podcast
Why economics matters in Charlotte
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Why economics matters in Charlotte

Charlotte Economics Club President Michael Blanco talks about making economics accessible, relevant and central to the city’s growing financial influence

Today’s episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at www.FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals.


Economics can sound like a subject you suffered through once and never wanted to revisit — but Michael Blanco, president of the Charlotte Economics Club, argues it’s actually the stuff people talk about every day: jobs, housing, inflation, interest rates, tariffs, AI and where the economy is headed.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Tony Mecia sits down with Blanco to talk about what the club does, who shows up to its events and why Charlotte — a longtime banking town that’s becoming an even bigger financial hub — is the perfect place for a growing economics club. They also discuss:

  • Why economics is “dinner table” conversation: housing, interest rates, AI, jobs, and spending

  • The club’s speaker lineup, including major economists and federal policy leaders

  • Why bank data can offer a real-time picture of what’s happening in the economy

  • New efforts to expand the club’s reach: quarterly socials, a signature cocktail, student engagement, and a future awards event

  • Blanco’s long-term vision: positioning Charlotte’s club alongside the biggest economics clubs in the U.S.

We hope you enjoy the conversation with Michael Blanco.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.


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