Dr. Kathleen Brennan and Dr. Chris Cooper share insights from demographic trends and public opinion on health care, education, government, and the economy from their “2014 Regional Outlook Report.”

1. LEAD:WNC
2014 Regional Outlook Highlights

2. Three Editions, Three Components, Three Authors
• Supported by the Chancellor’s Division & the Public Policy Institute
• 2004, 2008, 2013
• Multiple Methods
o Demographic Analysis
o Public Opinion Survey
o Economic Assessment
• Kathleen Brennan, Anthropology & Sociology
• Chris Cooper, Political Science & Public Affairs
• Steve Ha, Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, & Economics

3. Western North Carolina

4. Quick Demographic Overview
• Overall Population Predictions
o NC growth > WNC growth > US growth (1990 – 2010)
o NC growth > US growth > WNC growth (2010 – 2030)

5. Quick Demographic Overview
• Senior Citizen Population Predictions
o NC growth > WNC growth > US growth (1990 – 2010)
o NC growth > US growth > WNC growth (2010 – 2030)

6. Quick Demographic Overview
• Latino Population Predictions
o WNC growth > NC growth > US growth (1990 – 2010)
o NC growth > WNC growth > US growth (2010 – 2030)

7. Public Opinion: Health Care

8. Public Opinion: Health Care

9. Public Opinion: Education

10. Public Opinion: Government

11. Public Opinion: Government

12. Public Opinion: Economy

13. Public Opinion: Economy

14. Public Opinion: Economy

15. Public Opinion: Economy

16. Cleavages to Consider
• Buncombe County vs. Everyone Else in WNC
• WNC Natives vs. In-Migrants