Dec 15 Why Doesn't the U.S. Just Print More Money, Rather Than Borrow? By Elizabeth Shell Name: Bill Turner Question: Why does the U.S. borrow so much instead of printing as much money as we need? Paul Solman: Superb question. Two responses. Response 1: First, mightn't you borrow if you could get today's rate: a 30-year… Continue reading
Dec 15 Senate Set to Send Tax Bill to House From left: Republican Sens. John Barrasso, Mitch McConnell and Lamar Alexander prepare to speak to the media Tuesday at the Capitol. Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images. As the Senate prepared Wednesday to give final approval to the $858… Continue reading
Dec 14 Tool$ Tuesday: Interactive Tax Cut Graphic By Paul Solman Today's tool concerns the extension of the Bush tax cuts and comes via the Washington Post, which generated the interactive graphic some time ago. But it's as timely a tool as ever, given that the Senate vote… Continue reading
Dec 14 Tool$ Tuesday: Interactive Tax Cut Graphic By Elizabeth Shell Today's tool concerns the extension of the Bush tax cuts and comes via the Washington Post, which generated the interactive graphic some time ago. But it's as timely a tool as ever, given that the Senate voted Monday night… Continue reading
Dec 13 What's Causing U.S. Personal Spending to Drop: Job Losses, Fear or Both? By Paul Solman Paul Solman answers questions from NewsHour viewers and site visitors on business and economic news most days on his Making Sen$e page. Here's Monday's query: Name: Michael Cassady Question: Paul, If the U.S. consumer market is the… Continue reading
Dec 13 What's Causing US Personal Spending to Drop- Job Loss, Fear? By Elizabeth Shell Name: Michael Cassady Question: Paul, If the U.S. consumer market is the economic driver of the U.S. economy, and that of China too, with middle-class incomes stagnant, and consumer debt more controlled following the housing market bubble, how many jobs… Continue reading
Dec 10 Loan Modifications: A Question of Economic Injustice? By Paul Solman Paul Solman answers questions from NewsHour viewers and web users on business and economic news most days on his Making Sen$e page. Here's Friday's query: Three questions today, one answer. Name: James Tracey Question: On a recent… Continue reading
Dec 10 Loan Modifications: A Question of Economic Injustice? By Elizabeth Shell Three questions today, one answer. Name: James Tracey Question: On a recent program, you interviewed a lady from the New York city area, who works in the public education field. She was about to lose the house that her family… Continue reading
Dec 10 The Morning Line: For President Obama, Now Comes the Hard Part President Obama at the White House this week. Photo by Dennis Brack-Pool/Getty Images. If you think the greatest challenge currently facing President Obama is getting the $858 billion tax cut deal through Congress, think again. The Senate appears… Continue reading
Dec 09 Good Ideas to Save the Economy Can Have Unintended Consequences By Paul Solman Paul Solman answers questions from NewsHour viewers and web users on business and economic news most days on his Making Sen$e page. Here's Thursday's query: Name: Fred Damato Question: Would this work to jump start the economy?… Continue reading