Nov 15 How Would YOU Balance the U.S. Budget? By Paul Solman The Sunday Times recently featured an exercise that it might make sense for all Americans to try, and certainly members of Congress pressing to balance the budget- Budget Puzzle: You Fix the Budget. And, if you prefer to get… Continue reading
Nov 12 Passing the Buck: China, Dollars and Debt A bit more about the interplay between China's holding of currency and U.S. debt. First, a simple graphical explainer as to how the Chinese government gets so many dollars in the first place, using Ford Motor… Continue reading
Nov 12 Passing the Buck: China, Dollars and Debt Editor's Note: A bit more about the interplay between Chinese currency and U.S. debt. First, a simple graphical explainer as to how the Chinese government gets so many dollars in the first place, using Ford Motor Company and… Continue reading
Nov 11 American Debt and The Chinese Government: A Match Made in Purgatory? By Elizabeth Shell Editor's Note: The United States is in debt to the tune of $13.7 trillion. But for what, and to whom? Basically, the debt is the result of more spending that saving at every level, from individual households to businesses to… Continue reading
Nov 11 U.S. Debt and the Chinese Government: A Match Made in Purgatory? By Elizabeth Shell The United States is in debt to the tune of $13.7 trillion. But for what, and to whom? At its core, the debt is the result of more spending than saving at every level, from individual households to businesses… Continue reading
Nov 10 How Stimulating is Military Spending? By Paul Solman Paul Solman answers questions from NewsHour viewers and web users on business and economic news most days on his Making Sen$e page. Here's Wednesday's query: Name: Rich Tuloch Question: I learned long, long ago in school that… Continue reading
Nov 10 How Stimulating is Military Spending? By Elizabeth Shell Name: Rich Tuloch Question: I learned long, long ago in school that military spending is a form of economic stimulus. If I am correct, the past administration (President Bush & co.) spent a great deal more money as stimulus than… Continue reading
Nov 09 Midterm Election Proved Don’t-Tread-On-Me Individualism in WEIRD America As to the midterm election last week, the following is prompted by an academic paper urged upon me by several top psychology professors, for reasons having nothing to do with the voting to come. The paper, by psychologists Joseph Henrich,… Continue reading
Nov 08 The Fed’s $600 Billion Move: Monetary Debauchery? By Paul Solman Forgive me for not answering a question today, but for posting a note about the Fed. Its decision last week: to purchase a further $600 billion of longer-term Treasury securities by the end of the second quarter… Continue reading
Nov 08 The Fed’s Latest Move: Monetary Debauchery? By Elizabeth Shell Forgive me for not answering a question today, but posting a note about the Fed. Its decision last week: to purchase a further $600 billion of longer-term Treasury securities by the end of the second quarter of 2011, a… Continue reading