This 2006 report, written by Dr. Robert Mulligan of Western Carolina University, seeks to provide a deeper and more meaningful analysis of economic conditions in western North Carolina. The report utilizes the methodology of the United Nations Human Development Report and tabulates a single numerical score for each North Carolina county (between 0.00 at the lowest and 1.00 at the highest) that combines results in the areas of income, education and health. NCHDIs provide a measure of relative, though not absolute, local economic development and allow observation of the distribution of development throughout the state. Of the 23 AdvantageWest counties: Swain, Graham and McDowell were in the lowest quartile while Rutherford, Macon, Cherokee and Mitchell were in the next-lowest quartile.

The Report can be downloaded in PDF form here. To obtain a printed copy, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .