2012 FEBRUARY
Feb. 10, 2012

Italy: Amid Eurozone Crisis, 'Going the Greece Way' Would Be Disastrous
Languishing amid the eurozone crisis, all of Italy is hurting and under pressure from international creditors to bring down its massive national debt. Margaret Warner reports from Milan on an economy so big that a default could bring about the collapse of the entire euro system.

  

Feb. 10, 2012

Greece Reels as Government OKs More Austerity Measures
As Greece signed off on a new round of austerity measures in exchange for another bailout, European finance ministers said the cuts may not be enough. James Mates of Independent Television News reports on the start of a two-day strike over the cuts.

  

Feb. 10, 2012

Is Social Security a Ponzi Scheme?
Security was originally designed as a "pay-as-you-go" system in which each succeeding generation of workers is supposed to take care of the last. all workers are charged a "payroll" tax, as are their employers. (The employee half has been suspended again until Feb. 29.) That money is supposed to provide for today's retirees.

Feb. 9, 2012

In Bailing Out Greece, Germans Eye 'Functional, Surviving Euro'
European Union finance ministers said Thursday Greece would have to make even more austerity cuts to receive bailout money, even if there is a new government. Margaret Warner reports from Germany on how citizens of the continent's richest country feel about the EU's latest debt relief package for Greece.

  

Feb. 9, 2012

What Greece's Latest Cuts Mean for Workers, EU
Greek political leaders reached a much-anticipated agreement Thursday on yet another round of austerity cuts. Jeffrey Brown and John Psaropolous of the blog The New Athenian discuss implications for Greeks, the country's economy and its relationship with the continent.

  

Feb. 9, 2012

Austerity Plan Might Ease Greece Out of its 2-Year Debt Crisis
After weeks of negotiations, Greece's political leaders wrapped up a controversial agreement Thursday on yet another round of austerity measures. Though the deal received some praise, Germany said it fell short while workers in Greece took to the streets to protest more spending cuts. Jeffrey Brown reports.

  

Feb. 9, 2012

Big Banks, 49 States Reach $25 Billion Deal Over Foreclosure Abuses
Even as foreclosed homes -- casualties of the housing bubble -- still litter the American landscape, federal and state officials announced Thursday a $25 billion deal between 49 states and five mortgage giants designed to give relief to homeowners and hold banks accountable for abusive practices.

  

Feb. 9, 2012

Does Greater Equality Make Societies Stronger?
"Could you please talk to Richard Wilkinson or Kate Pickett about income inequality?" A reader writes to Paul Solman. "According to them, social mobility tends to be stronger in more equal societies, which contradicts Richard Epstein's views about inequality being an incentive for growth."

Feb. 8, 2012

Brzezinski: U.S. Should Work With Russia, Turkey to Solve Global Problems
Zbigniew Brzezinski says that as American power declines relative to other countries, and China's influence grows, the United States can no longer dictate to the world, or be "the determining player of everything that is important on the global scene." Jeffrey Brown speaks with the author and former national security adviser.

  

Feb. 8, 2012

Amid Eurozone Crisis, How Germany Became Europe's Richest Country
As European debt crisis negotiations approach the 11th hour on yet another bailout for Greece, Margaret Warner reports on some of the people behind the economic success of Germany -- Europe's richest country.

  

Feb. 8, 2012

America's Agricultural Success: A Well-Kept Secret?
Amid all the worry about how long it will take the economic recovery to kick into high gear, there's a little-noticed sector that's doing very well: American agriculture. Farm sector earnings hit a record last year, with farm income rising just above $100 billion.

Feb. 8, 2012

Is Our Economy Basically Just a Game of Monopoly?
Most of us have played Monopoly. You set up the board, deal out the money, roll the dice and play until one person collects so much of the wealth that the other players can't buy anything, or pay rent, or pay utility bills. The game stops. But is the correct purpose of regulation is to keep the game going as long as possible?

Feb. 7, 2012

Italy's Premier Mario Monti: Time to Focus on Growth in Europe
In an interview with Margaret Warner in Rome, Italy's Premier Mario Monti said now is the time to start focusing on "how collectively we can achieve more growth in Europe." Monti also said "old phantoms" of resentment between the North and South of Europe had reemerged in light of the euro zone crisis.

  

Feb. 7, 2012

Protests in Greece Take Aim at Europe's Demands for More Cuts
Protesters in Greece took to the streets again Tuesday, expressing anger over Europe's demands for more spending cuts and tax increases. James Mates of Independent Television News reports on the unpopular new round of austerity measures then Margaret Warner sets up her interview with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti.

  

Feb. 7, 2012

Does the U.S. Tax Imports?
Marc Whitehead sends a follow-up question after reading Paul's thoughts on tariffs from early January: If we put a 15 percent tariff on all imported goods, how much money would that tax generate each year?

Feb. 6, 2012

Rate Raters, Casino Traders and the Greek Debt Problem
Here are a trio of queries for Monday, including who rates the raters, stock exchanges turning into casinos and Greece's debt issue.

Feb. 4, 2012

Greece's Moment of Truth
The Greek government declared Saturday that it had reached partial agreement with its euro area creditors on a $170 billion bailout package. But a gulf of differences remains, with only a day of talks to go.

Feb. 3, 2012

Unemployment Drops to 8.3%, but It's 'Premature to Do Handstands'
New job numbers released Friday showed the U.S. job market surged in January as the unemployment rate dropped to its lowest level in three years. Jeffrey Brown, Macroeconomic Advisers' Joel Prakken and Georgetown University's Harry Holzer examine the numbers and assess what some good news means for the longer-term U.S. recovery.

  

Feb. 3, 2012

Tuesday on the NewsHour: Italian Prime Minister on the Financial Crisis
As European countries continue to struggle with how to resolve the region's financial crisis, one of the key voices in that effort is set to make an appearance on Tuesday's NewsHour.

Feb. 3, 2012

Unemployment Dips to 8.3%, Lowest Rate in Three Years
The unemployment rate continued to trend downward Friday, reaching 8.3 percent, the lowest rate in three years. We calculate U-7, our own more inclusive statistic, to be down to 16.9 percent for January. That's the lowest we've seen since we started tracking the figure in January 2010.

Feb. 2, 2012

Poverty and Politics: How Strong Is Safety Net for Poor Americans?
Presidential candidates have loaded recent stump speeches with references to wealth, taxes and "the very poor." Jeffrey Brown explores the role of poverty this election year with Lawrence Mead of New York University, Angela Glover Blackwell of the advocacy group PolicyLink and Barbara Perry of the University of Virginia.

  

Feb. 2, 2012

Widening the Underemployment Pool - And Those Who Calculate It
More signs that the U.S. economy may not be headed into a strong recovery just yet: unemployment was at 8.6 percent in January, with underemployment up to 18.7 percent. But wait a minute. Those of you that watch unemployment numbers (and this page) closely will surely note that we're a day ahead of ourselves.

Feb. 1, 2012

Facebook IPO: Putting a Value on Social Media Giant
Facebook, the world's leading social media service, filed papers with the SEC Wednesday to raise $5 billion and take the company public. Jeffrey Brown discusses its business model, its growth potential and some interesting revelations in the IPO paperwork with Nate Elliott of Forrester Research and Wired magazine's Steven Levy.

  

Feb. 1, 2012

HUD Secretary Donovan: 'We Need to Do More' to Help Homeowners
President Obama called the housing crisis "massive in size and scope" Wednesday as he described his latest proposal that would let homeowners with private mortgages refinance into government-backed loans. Judy Woodruff discusses the $5 billion to $10 billion plan with Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan.

  

Feb. 1, 2012

How Much Does Uncle Sam Spend on Foreign Aid?
Today's audience question for economics correspondent Paul Solman: Could reducing U.S foreign aid be used to help the Department of Defense reduce military spending?

JANUARY
Jan. 31, 2012

How the Housing Market Could Shape the 2012 Election
A new Standard & Poor's Case-Shiller Home Price Index showed U.S. home prices fell for a third straight month in two Florida cities, Miami and Tampa. Jeffrey Brown discusses the housing market's role this election season with The Wall Street Journal's Arian Campo-Flores and Jed Kolko of the real estate website Trulia.

  

Jan. 31, 2012

Most EU Members Back 'Fiscal Pact' to Ensure Discipline, Punish Violators
As European Union member states attempt to tackle their financial woes with a fiscal discipline deal, Gwen Ifill discusses the details with Margaret Warner, reporting from Stuttgart, Germany.

  

Jan. 31, 2012

News Wrap: Sub-Zero Cold Wave Crosses Central, Eastern Europe
In other news Tuesday, the death toll neared 60 in a sub-zero cold wave across Central and Eastern Europe as temperatures dropped to -17 degrees Fahrenheit in some places. Also, the Food and Drug Administration approved a drug called Kalydeco for use by 1,200 patients with a rare form of cystic fibrosis.

  

Jan. 31, 2012

No Recovery in Latest U.S. Housing Data
While mortgage interest rates are at literally at an all-time low, housing prices are back in line with income levels and the gap between the cost of owning vs. renting has closed substantially in many areas, there's still a general lack of confidence.

Jan. 30, 2012

At EU Summit, a New Focus on Growth, Not Just Austerity
Margaret Warner speaks with Jeffrey Brown from the European Union summit in Brussels, where there's a new emphasis on the need for growth, not just austerity measures, to keep the continent from facing another recession.

  

Jan. 30, 2012

Protests Against Austerity Measures Greet EU Members in Brussels
In their 17th meeting in two years, leaders of 27 member states of the European Union reconvened in hopes of taming an economic crisis that threatens to entangle the continent in another recession. Margaret Warner reports from Belgium's capital on disagreement over austerity measures, both on the street and in the summit.

  

Jan. 30, 2012

Is All Government Spending 'Stimulus'?
Paul Solman answers the following question from our audience: If the stimulus program of 2009 was included in the federal budget and the budget was not subsequently reduced, did we in effect get an equivalent stimulus program, or more, in 2010 and 2011?

Jan. 30, 2012

Does the U.S. Actually Benefit From Free Trade?
Paul Solman answers a question about the benefit of free trade agreements.

Jan. 30, 2012

Does the U.S. Actually Benefit From Free Trade?
A viewer asks: What is the benefit -- if any -- of our free trade agreements?

Jan. 27, 2012

In 'Money Shot,' Poet Armantrout Reacts to Financial Crisis in Verse
Rae Armantrout's poetry finds its place at the intersection of the public and the private. Armantrout won the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Pulitzer Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award for her 2009 collection, "Versed." Poems in her latest book, "Money Shot," speak to the economic downturn.

  

Jan. 26, 2012

In an 'Age of Austerity,' How Scarce Resources Could Shape U.S. Politics
In a time of scarce resources, plans to cut deficits and reduce spending can develop into campaign issues. Judy Woodruff and Tom Edsall, a longtime Washington Post reporter who's now a New York Times columnist and journalism professor, discuss how austerity could shape and define American politics this election year and beyond.

  

Jan. 26, 2012

How Many Manufacturing Jobs Can U.S. Realistically Maintain?
As President Obama and GOP presidential candidates talk about reviving the U.S. manufacturing sector in hopes of creating jobs, how realistic is that goal in the face of continued outsourcing and machines filling jobs once held by humans? Ray Suarez speaks with three experts about the challenges and demand for skilled workers.

  

Jan. 26, 2012

Could Greece Fire Off a Global Credit Freeze?
These days, the fear is that institutions that sold insurance on Greek debt -- Greek credit default swaps -- will be obliged to pay up if Greece were to officially default. And that they won't be able to meet that obligation, leading to global credit freeze 2.0.

Jan. 25, 2012

Is There's a Big Relief Rally Under Way?
Some might be expecting comment on the State of the Union here, but really, I don't see much point. I've been listening to these speeches for decades now, and they are not policy proposals so much as articles of faith. Rather, Europe.

Jan. 25, 2012

Debating Obama's Vision for the U.S. Economy
In his State of the Union Address Tuesday night, President Obama spoke about his economic goals for the country. Gwen Ifill discusses the broader points, including fairness, taxes and American manufacturing, with Heather Boushey of the Center for American Progress and Douglas Holtz-Eakin of the American Action Forum.

  

Jan. 24, 2012

Is 'Hot Money' Responsible for the Financial Crises?
'Hot money' -- capital moving quickly into and out of a country --- is the topic of today's Q-and-A, and whether it's part of the reason why there have been so many financial crises in the last 30 years.

Jan. 23, 2012

Watchdog-in-Chief Richard Cordray Outlines Plan to Clean Up Consumer Lending
Economics correspondent Paul Solman examines the controversial appointment of Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Paul quizzes the tough-on-crime former Ohio attorney general and former "Jeopardy" champ about his appointment's legality, his plans to police financial firms and some Bible trivia.

  

Jan. 23, 2012

Why Are Banks Ditching Foreclosed Homes, and What's the Euro Worth?
Two questions today from reader Barb Weismann: one, on foreclosed homes and what banks are doing with them; and the second, looking at why the value of the euro is still besting the U.S. dollar even while the euro zone is in economic danger.

Jan. 20, 2012

Stand-up Economist Signs Off From China and Thinks About Its Future
In this final edition of our "Man in Beijing", stand-up economist Yoram Bauman ties up his China miniseries with thoughts on the future for the so-called "Communist" country.

Jan. 19, 2012

In Chapter 11 Filing, Kodak Tries to Develop New Vision for Survival
Eastman Kodak, a once-powerful American brand now struggling to stay relevant in an increasingly digital world, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Thursday. Hari Sreenivasan discusses the film pioneer's news with Julie Philipp, news director of WXXI Public Television in Rochester, N.Y., where Kodak is headquartered.

  

Jan. 19, 2012

Villaraigosa: Washington Must Be Smart About Cuts, Investments in U.S. Cities
Bracing for a new federal budget, hundreds of U.S. mayors sought meetings in Washington this week. Their message: don't let cities fall through the cracks. Ray Suarez discusses the challenges local governments face amid a national debt crisis with Mayors Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles and Danny Jones of Charleston, W.Va.

  

Jan. 19, 2012

Rejected Keystone XL Pipeline Project at Top of Congress' Agenda
House Democrats and Republicans picked up where they left off at the end of 2011, bickering about the creation of jobs or the lack thereof. President Obama rejected the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline that Republicans said would create more than 20,000 jobs.

Jan. 18, 2012

How Big a Role Do Private Equity Firms Play in U.S. Economy?
As private equity firms gain more attention this election season, Judy Woodruff discusses whether private equity activity is more focused on short-term profits or the long-term health of companies with The Riverside Company's Stewart Kohl and author Josh Kosman.

  

Jan. 18, 2012

Richard Cordray: From 'Jeopardy!' to Controversial Presidential Appointment
Paul Solman talks to Richard Cordray about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Republican opposition, his record on being tough on crime, and 'Jeopardy!'

Jan. 18, 2012

The Not-So-Bad Times in Nashua, N.H.
There are signs that the economy is indeed stirring to life -- or at least showing signs it is not completely dead -- and if you look closely you can see indications of those returning vital signs in Nashua, N.H.