Business & Economy 2003 Archive | PBS NewsHour

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BUSINESS & ECONOMY


	2003 DECEMBER Dec. 31, 2003 Free Market Backlash in Bolivia The South American nation of Bolivia is known for its stunning elevations and sunken standard of living. Ray Suarez reports on the economic situation in that developing nation, where two thirds of the population live on fewer than two U.S. dollars each day.

	Dec. 26, 2003 Paradox of Choice Paul Solman looks at a phenomenon called "The Paradox of Choice," a problem even more common during the holiday shopping season.

	Dec. 23, 2003 Toy Wars The toy business has changed dramatically over the last ten years. Many traditional department stores no longer sell toys and this Christmas season many specialty toy stores are struggling to compete against discount stores such as Wal-Mart.

	Dec. 19, 2003 Halliburton Under Scrutiny After weeks of Democratic criticism that Vice President Dick Cheney's former company Halliburton has been overcharging the U.S. military for fuel in Iraq, the Wall Street Journal reported that Pentagon auditors are accusing the company of refusing to relinquish key internal documents.

	Dec. 19, 2003 Debt Mission for Iraq Iraq may sit atop the world's second-largest oil reserves, but the country owes more than $220 billion in Gulf War reparations and foreign debt. Margaret Warner discusses efforts to reduce the Iraqi debt with German diplomat Klaus-Peter Gottwald and Robert Hormats, chairman of Goldman Sachs International.

	Dec. 16, 2003 Jobs on the Move Cost-conscious American companies are increasingly moving high-paying service-sector jobs overseas. Paul Solman reports that this practice, called "outsourcing," has moved many jobs to India.

	Dec. 16, 2003 Stopping E-mail Spam President Bush signed a bill Tuesday that seeks to stop spam from jamming people's e-mail accounts. Margaret Warner asks AOL Vice President Randall Boe and anti-spam activist John Mozena about the effectiveness of this new law.

	Dec. 11, 2003 Surging Stocks The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 10,000 for the first time since May 2002 based on strong retail sales and indications that federal interest rates won't rise any time soon. Jim Lehrer gets perspective on the market's performance from author and market historian John Steele Gordon.

	Dec. 10, 2003 'In an Uncertain World' Paul Solman speaks with Robert Rubin, former Clinton treasury secretary, about his new book, "In an Uncertain World."

	Dec. 4, 2003 Background: Steel Tariffs Ended President Bush lifted tariffs on foreign steel Thursday, less than a month after the World Trade Organization's highest court ruled that they violated global trade laws.

	Dec. 4, 2003 Steel Tariffs Ended President Bush lifted tariffs on foreign steel Thursday, less than a month after the World Trade Organization's highest court ruled that they violated global trade laws. Jim Lehrer discusses the move with the president of a steelworkers' union and a lawyer for businesses that use steel.

	Dec. 2, 2003 Selling a Dream Ray Suarez continues the NewsHour series on how and where Americans live their lives with a look at the divorce between expectations and reality in the wedding business.

	Dec. 1, 2003 Computer Worms and Viruses Computer security technologists are racing to find ways to block ever-more complex computer worms and viruses that burrow into computers -- usually via e-mail -- and wreak havoc on network systems.



	NOVEMBER Nov. 28, 2003 Investors' Guide More than ten mutual fund companies have been implicated or investigated for questionable or illegal trading practices. Two experts offer advice on how the investing public can deal with the scandals.

	Nov. 28, 2003 Back in Business? The Labor Department revised its initial estimates and reported that the American economy added 286,000 new jobs between August and October. Despite this good news, 8.8 million people were still unemployed last month. Ray Suarez dissects the latest numbers with the former Labor Department chief economist, Lisa Lynch.

	Nov. 26, 2003 Newsmaker Interview: William Donaldson Paul Solman discusses the ongoing investigation into corporate misconduct in the mutual fund industry and efforts to protect investors with Securities and Exchange Commission head William Donaldson.

	Nov. 18, 2003 Mutual Fund Fraud Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and Treasury Secretary John Snow cautioned that bipartisan bills to overhaul the $7 trillion mutual fund industry may cost investors more in fees and diminished returns. Kwame Holman updates the debate over the proposed reforms.

	Nov. 17, 2003 Tough Choices for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Spencer Michels reports on the tough decisions newly sworn-in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger must make when trying to balance California's budget.

	Nov. 10, 2003 Steel Tariffs The Bush administration suffered a setback in the trade wars when the WTO ruled that the tariffs the United States imposed on imported steel last year violate global trade laws. Margaret Warner gets perspective on the ruling and its implications for future American tariff policy with Wall Street Journal trade reporter Neil King.

	Nov. 7, 2003 Reading the Numbers The Labor Department revised its initial estimates and reported that the American economy added 286,000 new jobs between August and October. Despite this good news, 8.8 million people were still unemployed last month. Ray Suarez dissects the latest numbers with the former Labor Department chief economist, Lisa Lynch.

	Nov. 6, 2003 Street Cop: Eliot Spitzer New York state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has become perhaps the most vigorous enforcer of the rules against corporate wrongdoings in America. Paul Solman speaks with Spitzer about his efforts to combat Wall Street's abuses and his recent testimony at the congressional mutual fund fraud hearings in Washington.

	Nov. 5, 2003 Rewriting the Rules for the New York Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange interim chairman John Reed made public his proposal for additional oversight boards and more institutional transparency. Ray Suarez reports on the reforms and then gets additional perspective from John Coffee and Joel Seligman.

	Nov. 4, 2003 Changing the Ergonomic Furniture Rules? Business leaders in Washington state are seeking support for an initiative on the ballot that would reverse requirements making all employers equip their offices with ergonomically correct furniture. Lee Hochberg of Oregon Public Broadcasting reports.

	Nov. 4, 2003 Mutual Fund Fraud During congressional hearings Tuesday, Securities and Exchange Commission officials said that they expect to charge more firms in their ongoing probe into abuses in the $7 trillion mutual fund industry. Financial experts analyze the impact of the testimonies and the SEC investigation.

	Nov. 3, 2003 Mutual Fund Hearing On Capitol Hill, senators criticized the Securities and Exchange Commission for its failure to detect abuses in the $7 trillion industry earlier. Kwame Holman reports on the hearing on the Hill.

	Nov. 3, 2003 Mutual Funds Fraud Paul Solman reports on the investigation into corporate misconduct in the mutual fund industry. The probe has widened after two top executives resigned under suspicion of fraud.



	OCTOBER Oct. 30, 2003 Surging Numbers The U.S. economy grew at its fastest pace in nearly 20 years in the third quarter, registering a growth rate more than double the second quarter's advance, the government reported Thursday. Economists offer perspective on the forces driving the new numbers.

	Oct. 24, 2003 Triangle Gwen Ifill speaks with historian David Von Drehle about his recent book, "Triangle: The Fire That Changed America," which chronicles the devastating blaze at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City in 1911 that killed 146 workers and led to industry reforms.

	Oct. 24, 2003 Iraq Aid After a vigorous U.S. campaign for more economic aid for postwar Iraq, an international donors' conference in Madrid yields some $13 billion in new aid from the world community on top of more than $20 billion from the United States. A reporter at the conference recaps the outcome of the meetings.

	Oct. 23, 2003 Volunteer Funding Crisis AmeriCorps finds thousands of young Americans to serve in inner cities each year, but it has been unsuccessful at convincing Congress to provide additional funding for the program. Kwame Holman reports on the financial shortfalls of the largest government-funded domestic volunteer service organization.

	Oct. 23, 2003 Iraq's Oil American officials are asking their allies for billions of dollars to help rebuild Iraq at an international donors' conference in Madrid. Experts discuss the Iraqi potential to regenerate its own wealth through oil production.

	Oct. 21, 2003 Benefit Issues The cost of health care continues to ail the American economy, and its effects have been particularly acute in Southern California, where transit and grocery store workers have gone on strike over the issue. Jeffrey Kaye reports.

	Oct. 9, 2003 Playing by the Numbers As two historically "cursed" baseball teams, the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox, drum up hopes for a trip to the World Series, Paul Solman explores how economists see behavioral theories at work in baseball and its management.

	Oct. 8, 2003 Media Merger: General Electric Co. and Vivendi Universal General Electric Co. and Paris-based Vivendi Universal on Wednesday reached a final agreement to merge the French company's U.S. entertainment assets with GE's television network NBC, creating a media giant with an estimated value of $43 billion.

	Oct. 3, 2003 Economic Turnaround? The jobless rate remained steady in September and U.S. payrolls grew for the first time in eight months. Regional economists discuss what the latest job numbers may mean for the U.S. economy.



	SEPTEMBER Sept. 29, 2003 Economic Woes in California Jeffrey Kaye of KCET Los Angeles reports on the economic strain behind the California recall election.

	Sept. 25, 2003 Pension Gamble Paul Solman of WGBH Boston reports on the current financial crisis in the pension system, and how future retirees are affected.

	Sept. 23, 2003 Textile Jobs in Decline Betty Ann Bowser reports on the plight of textile workers in North Carolina, who were laid off following the closure of a local mill.

	Sept. 22, 2003 The Cost of the Iraq War U.S. administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer asked senators today to approve $87 billion for reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Experts offer their opinions on the effectiveness of Bremer's reconstruction plans for Iraq.

	Sept. 19, 2003 Car Talks Ford, GM and Chrysler reached tentative contract deals with the United Auto Workers this week. Industry experts discuss how the labor negotiations will impact the future of America's auto industry.

	Sept. 18, 2003 Big Board Ouster Richard Grasso, CEO of the New York Stock Exchange, resigned. Ray Suarez gets perspective from John Coffee, director of the Center on Corporate Governance at Columbia University Law School, and Gretchen Morgenson of The New York Times.

	Sept. 18, 2003 Public Housing Renewal Elizabeth Brackett of WTTW Chicago takes a look at the Chicago Housing Authority halfway through its 10-year redevelopment project.

	Sept. 16, 2003 Presidents' Wartime Budgets Gwen Ifill leads a discussion about the spending priortities of U.S. presidents in wartime and President Bush's request for new funding for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

	Sept. 16, 2003 NYSE CEO Criticized Over Pay New York Stock Exchange Chairman and CEO Richard Grasso has come under fire for accepting a $140 million compensation package. Ray Suarez leads a discussion about Grasso's pay.

	Sept. 12, 2003 Global Trade As the World Trade Organization continued talks Friday in Cancun, Mexico, Paul Solman investigates one possible downside to lowering barriers to international trade.

	Sept. 9, 2003 Agricultural Subsidy Struggle One of the most contentious issues facing ministers gathering in Cancun for the meeting of the World Trade Organization is how to address the use of agricultural subsidies. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on how U.S. cotton subsidies affect the global market and the life of farmers in the African nation of Mali.

	Sept. 5, 2003 The Politics of Jobs The potential political fallout remains uncertain following the Labor Department's announcement that there are fewer unemployed workers in America in August. Experts analyze the latest job numbers and how to improve the employment picture in the U.S.

	Sept. 5, 2003 Shields and Brooks Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and David Brooks of the New York Times discuss the dispute over whether to involve the U.N. in Iraq and the first Democratic presidential debate.

	Sept. 3, 2003 Smoke and Fire: Anti-Smoking Ads Jeffrey Kaye of KCET Los Angeles looks at the tobacco industry's lawsuit against the state of California over controversial anti-smoking ads.

	Sept. 3, 2003 Dollar Diplomacy The United States has accused China of undervaluing its currency, a practice Bush administration officials say hurts the U.S. economy.

	Sept. 1, 2003 Growing Pains: Natural Gas Prices Tom Bearden looks at the forces influencing the rise in natural gas prices and the effects of those increases.

	Sept. 1, 2003 Overtime Rules: Background The Labor Department is proposing a change to the rules governing eligibility for overtime pay. Jeffrey Brown reports.

	Sept. 1, 2003 Overtime Rules The Labor Department is proposing the most dramatic changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act in 65 years. The changes would raise the minimum amount people can earn and still be paid overtime but would also allow companies to stop paying overtime for some workers who are currently eligible.



	AUGUST Aug. 18, 2003 U.N. Debates Libya Sanctions As Libya accepts responsibility for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, the United Nations debates lifting sanctions against the country. Experts assess how an end to sweeping economic sanctions could affect Libya.

	Aug. 18, 2003 A Day's Work Ted Robbins of KUAT Tucson reports on the expanding day labor industry and efforts to improve conditions for the temporary workforce.

	Aug. 1, 2003 Economic Picture Ray Suarez discusses the new job numbers with Maria Fiorini, a Wall Street economist; Mark Vitner, a senior economist at Wachovia bank; and Lisa Lynch, former chief economist at the Labor Department.



	JULY July 30, 2003 Riding High: Sport Utility Vehicles A report on the evolution of sport utility vehicles from critics who challenge their environmental impact and safety record to drivers who are buying them in record numbers.

	July 29, 2003 Non-Working Numbers The U.S. unemployment rate declined from 6.4 percent to 6.2 percent in July, but the economy lost 44,000 jobs and nearly half a million discouraged Americans stopped looking for work. In a report broadcast before the new numbers were released, Paul Solman investigated why the official unemployment rate can be misleading.

	July 18, 2003 Fighting Words in Congress Kwame Holman reports on partisan wrangling in Congress over the $50 billion pension bill passed after a partisan fight that culminated with Republicans calling the police.

	July 15, 2003 Record Budget Deficit The Bush administration announced the 2003 federal budget deficit would be the highest in U.S. history: $450 billion. Experts discuss the causes of the growing deficit, including the war in Iraq, the tax cut and the weak economy.

	July 10, 2003 Stock Options Nobel prize-winning economist and Harvard Business School professor Robert Merton discusses the impact of technology giant Microsoft's decision to cancel its employee stock option program in the wake of a declining stock market.

	July 9, 2003 Fighting Fat Ray Suarez discusses the impact of a new FDA ruling, requiring increased disclosure of trans fats on food labels, with Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, and Rhona Applebaum, executive vice president of the National Food Processor Association.

	July 3, 2003 Jobless Jump The nation's unemployment rate jumped to 6.4 percent in June, up from 6.1 percent in May; the largest month-to-month rise since the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Experts analyze what the jump may mean for the economy.



	JUNE June 30, 2003 The Rocketeers: Space Exploration Jeffrey Kaye of KCET-Los Angeles reports on privatizing space exploration.

	June 26, 2003 Free Speech Decision The Supreme Court also refused to rule in a case against athletic apparel maker Nike, Inc. involving free commercial speech. Jim Lehrer discusses the Nike ruling with Jan Crawford Greenburg of The Chicago Tribune.

	June 25, 2003 Federal Reserve Rate Cut Wednesday's Federal Reserve decision to cut interests rates by a quarter point is the 13th rate cut since early 2001. Experts discuss the Fed's latest move with Gwen Ifill.

	June 23, 2003 The Jobless Recovery Paul Solman looks at the recession's effect on the changing world of manufacturing, where heavy losses have left many machinists with few options.

	June 13, 2003 Tax Tussle Yesterday the House passed legislation extending the child tax credit to poor families. Kwame Holman reports on the next step, a House-Senate compromise package.

	June 10, 2003 Taking on the Company Paul Solman reports on how some shareholders are pushing for corporate change in response to recent business scandals.

	June 10, 2003 Imclone Founder Sam Waksal: Paying the Price Imclone founder Sam Waksal was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for his part in an insider trading scandal. Gwen Ifill examines the case and its possible wider meaning with John Coffee of the Columbia University Law School.

	June 9, 2003 Tax Tussle Kwame Holman reports on the congressional effort to restore the child tax credit to some low-income families.

	June 6, 2003 Economy Turning Around? Abby Joseph Cohen, chair of the Investment Policy Committee at Goldman Sachs; and Allen Sinai, chief global economist and president of Decision Economics, Inc. speak with Ray Suarez about the U.S.'s mixed economic news, including rising unemployment and the stock market's recent gains.

	June 6, 2003 Report Card: The Job Market Continuing a series on education, Paul Solman of WGBH Boston looks at how recent college graduates are fairing in the job market.

	June 5, 2003 Martha Stewart's Resignation Martha Stewart resigned as CEO of her corporation, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia after being indicted on nine federal counts related to an alleged insider trading stock deal. Ray Suarez gets perspective on Stewart's legal traumas from Kara Scannell, a reporter with the Wall Street Journal.

	June 4, 2003 Rough Seas: The Future of the Fishing Industry As the beach vacation season gains momentum, a new report by the Pew Oceans Commission warns that the world's oceans are in danger from over fishing, pollution and urban sprawl. Ray Suarez examines theses issues and the future of the fishing industry with two experts.



	MAY May 27, 2003 Dollar's Decline The U.S. dollar hit an all-time low against the euro today. Paul Solman discusses the drooping dollar with international economist Fred Bergsten.

	May 26, 2003 Selling Books Hard times have hit book publishers. Terence Smith reports on recent trends within the book publishing industry.

	May 23, 2003 Talking Taxes Both houses of Congress approved President Bush's new tax cut plan Friday, a package worth $350 billion in tax cuts and state assistance over ten years. Ray Suarez discusses how the plan will affect individuals and families of differing income levels with Clint Stretch, tax policy director for Deloitte & Touche.

	May 22, 2003 Tax Deal Kwame Holman provides an update on the tax cut compromise reached by Congress.

	May 16, 2003 Taxes and Tactics The U.S. Senate voted 51 to 49 last night to cut taxes by a net of $350 billion. Kwame Holman reports on the legislation.

	May 15, 2003 Tough Times Betty Ann Bowser reports from Fall River, Massachusetts on how the state's government is dealing with its budget deficit.

	May 15, 2003 Showdown at the FCC: Media Companies Expansion The Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to vote on changes that would make it easier for large media companies to expand further. Terence Smith hosts a debate between Gene Kimmelman of the Consumers Union and B. Robert Okun, vice president and head NBC's Washington office.

	May 14, 2003 The Debate Over Tax Cuts From the White House to Capitol Hill, lawmakers are debating whether a large tax cut is the best way to stimulate the U.S. economy. Experts discuss the tax cut debate and its potential effects on job growth and the budget deficit.

	May 13, 2003 Tough Times for State Budgets Betty Ann Bowser reports on how Colorado is dealing with record budget deficits.

	May 12, 2003 Selling Tax Cuts Kwame Holman reports on President Bush's tax cut road show.

	May 8, 2003 Tough Times: California's Budget Spencer Michels reports on efforts in California to fight the state's budget deficit problem. The report is the first in a series examining how states are dealing with record budget shortfalls.

	May 7, 2003 Taxes and Tactics Kwame Holman reports on the continuing tax cut conflict and compromise in Congress.

	May 6, 2003 Debts of Saddam Hussein Iraq owes nearly $400 billion in obligations dating back to the first Gulf War. A new Iraqi government will have to decide what to do about Saddam's debt while it tries to rebuild.

	May 1, 2003 Taxes and Tactics Divisions between the House and Senate continue to complicate consideration of President Bush's tax cut proposal. Kwame Holman reports.



	APRIL April 29, 2003 Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission: William Donaldson After months of investigations, Wall Street regulators announced a settlement with ten of the nation's largest securities firms. Ray Suarez discusses the agreement with William Donaldson, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

	April 24, 2003 In the Pipeline: Iraq Oil Industry As Iraq begins pumping oil for the first time since the start of the war in March, experts consider the future of the Iraqi oil industry and the efforts to restart its system.

	April 23, 2003 Commercial Claims The Supreme Court heard arguments today in a case involving corporate free speech. Gwen Ifill discusses the proceedings with Jan Crawford Greenburg of The Chicago Tribune.

	April 12, 2003 Businesses Benefiting From War Spencer Michels reports on some of the technology companies that have high-tech tools in the field that may mean big bucks on the home front.

	April 3, 2003 War and the Economy Paul Solman looks at how the war in Iraq is impacting the U.S. economy.



	MARCH March 19, 2003 Oil and Money Oil prices have tumbled this week, responding to the uncertainty of war. Business correspondent Paul Solman reports on the volatile oil market.

	March 11, 2003 Newsmaker: John Snow Amidst the threat of a possible war with Iraq and other domestic issues, Treasury Secretary John Snow discusses the state of and prospects for the U.S. economy.

	March 10, 2003 The Struggling Economy As troubling economic data continues to be released, war fears appear to be further unsettling an already shaky economy. Ray Suarez discusses the state of the U.S. economy with two experts.

	March 5, 2003 The Cost of War Economists debate how much a war with Iraq might cost the United States.

	March 4, 2003 Los Angeles: Paying for Readiness The city of Los Angeles is hard at work implementing homeland security measures -- and hard-pressed to find ways to pay for them. Jeffrey Kaye reports.



	FEBRUARY Feb. 17, 2003 Troubled Times for United Airlines Elizabeth Brackett reports on the plight of United Airlines and its efforts to survive bankruptcy.

	Feb. 12, 2003 Dividend Debate Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan today praised President Bush's tax cut plan and warned about growing budget deficits. Paul Solman assesses the impact of the proposal to end dividend taxation.

	Feb. 10, 2003 Whose Call? Tom Bearden reports on the changes to state and federal law that have allowed U.S. residents the option to change their local telephone service.

	Feb. 6, 2003 War and Wall Street How did Wall Street respond to Secretary of State Colin Powell's speech before the U.N. Security Council and the growing prospect of war against Iraq?

	Feb. 3, 2003 Background: Spending Blueprint President Bush unveiled his new budget plan today. Kwame Holman reports.

	Feb. 3, 2003 Spending Blueprint President Bush submitted his $2.23 trillion budget plan to Congress, saying it will get the economy going again while taking care of social needs and protecting the U.S. from attack. Experts analyze the proposed budget plan.



	JANUARY Jan. 29, 2003 Background: Economic Rx Kwame Holman narrates excerpts from the State of the Union address.

	Jan. 29, 2003 Economic Rx: Denver Voters Spencer Michels gets more reaction from the Denver voters on the president's speech.

	Jan. 29, 2003 Bush's Economic Plan The president also spoke last night about his plan to fix the economy's troubles. Ray Suarez then discusses the president's economic proposals with Rep. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md. ) And Rep. Jim McCrery (R-La.).

	Jan. 29, 2003 Words of War: Denver Voters President Bush warned in his State of the Union address that the U.S. will see that Iraq is disarmed, even if that means launching military strikes. Spencer Michels follows up with a group of Denver voters.

	Jan. 29, 2003 Words of War President Bush warned in his State of the Union address that the U.S. will see that Iraq is disarmed, even if that means launching military strikes. Kwame Holman reports with excerpts from the president's speech.

	Jan. 29, 2003 Words of War President Bush warned in his State of the Union address that war with Iraq may be inevitable.

	Jan. 23, 2003 Truth and Justice in Sierra Leone The devastated nation of Sierra Leone struggles to recover after a brutal decade-long civil war.

	Jan. 22, 2003 Senate Majority Leader: Senator Bill Frist The new majority leader of the U.S. Senate discusses potential military action against Iraq and Republican budget priorities for the 108th Congress.

	Jan. 22, 2003 Pricing Drugs The nation's drug manufacturers took their case against the state of Maine to the Supreme Court today. Maine has required that drug companies provide discounted drugs for the uninsured. Margaret Warner follows up with more on the arguments with the Supreme Court reporter for The Chicago Tribune.

	Jan. 13, 2003 Deal Maker's Downfall Experts analyze Steve Case's decision to step down as chairman of AOL Time Warner, and what it will mean for the company's future.

	Jan. 10, 2003 Job Crunch Lee Hochberg reports on the problems facing white collar workers in the Pacific Northwest.

	Jan. 9, 2003 The Legacy of Airline Deregulation Alfred Kahn, the architect of airline deregulation, discusses the current state of the industry with Paul Solman.

	Jan. 8, 2003 Economic Stimulus? Economists debate the effectiveness of President Bush's economic stimulus plan.

	Jan. 7, 2003 President Bush's Growth Plan President Bush revealed his $674 billion stimulus plan Tuesday, which favors huge tax cuts for inventors, to boost the nation's struggling economy. Mr. Bush's announcement follows the unveiling of the Democratic plan.

	Jan. 6, 2003 Sharing the Wealth More than 100 companies have agreed voluntarily to treat stock options as an expense. Paul Solman reports.

	Jan. 3, 2003 State Budget Crises With a slumping economy and a shrinking tax base, states are facing massive budget shortfalls and tough questions. Four governors discuss efforts to stave off a financial crisis in their state.

	Jan. 3, 2003 Is It a Bubble? In the last seven years alone, America's homes have increased in value by $2.6 trillion. Paul Solman investigates whether the house-buying boom will go bust.

	Jan. 2, 2003 Power Plays New power plants south of the border are generating controversy. Jeffrey Kaye reports.

	Jan. 1, 2003 A Look Back at 2002 As 2003 dawns, the NewsHour's panel of historians reflects on the year past, discussing scandals in the Catholic Church, Wall Street and the Senate as well as assessing President Bush's 2002.

	Jan. 1, 2003 Telemarketers: Hold That Call The federal and many state governments have begun to work to limit the 300 telemarketer calls that the average American receives each year. Margaret Warner discusses these efforts with Eileen Harrington of the Federal Trade Commission and Matt Mattingley of the American Teleservices Association.