Jun 10 Paul Solman: How Do Oil Imports and ‘Oil Independence’ Intersect? By Paul Solman This entry is cross-posted on the Business Desk blog, where economics correspondent Paul Solman answers your questions on economic news. Question: I'm befuddled by the "oil independence" movement that is neatly summarized by the slogan "drill baby drill." This… Continue reading
May 13 Simon Johnson on Misleading Messages in the Fight for Financial Reform By Business Desk Paul Solman: On Thursday’s NewsHour, we speak to Simon Johnson about his new book, 13 Bankers: The Wall Street Takeover and the Next Financial Meltdown. A great benefit of this website is that we can share intriguing… Continue reading
May 11 Even in Tough Times, Realtor Offers Helping Hand By Business Desk Editor's note: While reporting on the real estate crisis in Florida recently, Paul spoke with realtor Kevin Jarrett, who is about to lose his fourth home to foreclosure. What struck Paul was how even as Jarrett struggles with his own… Continue reading
May 06 Thoughts on Thursday’s Wild Market Ride By Paul Solman For anyone visiting my Making Sen$e page Thursday to find out why markets are quaking, allow me to repeat the phrase that ought to be the motto for this page, so often have I used it: Credit comes… Continue reading
Apr 28 Making Use of Employees’ Talents By Business Desk Editor’s note: On Wednesday’s NewsHour, Paul revisits a Missouri manufacturer that in this era of “too big to fail” has proven small enough to succeed. Part of the secret to its success? Prizing employees’ innovation alongside their efficiency. In this… Continue reading
Apr 16 Paul Solman Takes a Trip Down RAM Memory Lane By Carolyn O'Hara On Thursday’s NewsHour, Paul Solman spoke to Dan Pink, author of a new book “Drive,” about what motivates behavior and innovation in the modern workplace. PAUL SOLMAN: Executive pay and Wall Street bonuses,… might not enhance,… Continue reading
Apr 16 A Trip Down RAM Memory Lane By Business Desk Editor’s note: On Thursday’s NewsHour, Paul Solman spoke to Dan Pink, author of a new book Drive, about what motivates behavior and innovation in the modern workplace. PAUL… Continue reading
Mar 12 Economist Andrew Lo on ‘Existential Vertigo’ By Business Desk Paul Solman: MIT economist Andrew Lo, who beyond guest-blogging his favorite recent economics book here on Making Sense this week, appears on Friday’s NewsHour, discussing how human frailty and bad decision-making… Continue reading
Feb 08 Stand-up Economist Yoram Bauman Makes Money Funny By Business Desk Paul Solman: We've gotten such a great response to last week’s segment on comedy at the annual economics convention that we’d like to showcase a few more outtakes from stand-up economist Yoram Bauman’s routine. Enjoy. Continue reading
Feb 05 Two Takes on Unemployment By Business Desk Paul Solman: Harry Truman may have longed for a one-handed economist, but it’s probably good that he didn’t get one. Economies, like weather systems, are simply too chaotic to make prediction — much less prescription — unambiguous. It should come… Continue reading