Aug 28 Would Shortening the Workweek Stimulate the Economy? Question: Why doesn’t the federal government stimulate the economy by reducing the length of the workweek (the number of hours after which employees receive time-and-a-half pay)? Employers would respond by spreading the work load, which means more hiring and fewer… Continue reading
Aug 28 Consumer Spending Rises Slightly, But Confidence Falls Again As the nation looks for more signs of economic recovery, there were mixed signals on Friday as reports showed consumer spending rose slightly last month thanks in part to an increase in auto sales but incomes remained flat. Continue reading
Aug 27 Simon Johnson Previews Next Month's G20 Meeting in Pittsburgh By Business Desk Editor’s note: Next month, on September 24 and 25, world leaders will convene in Pittsburgh for the annual G20 summit. Atop the agenda: how to get the world economy firmly on the path to recovery. In today’s video conversation,… Continue reading
Aug 27 Watch FDIC Losing Money as Many More Banks Face Collapse The FDIC reported that its insurance fund shrank 20 percent in the second quarter. Jeffrey Brown speaks with a reporter and analyst about troubled banks. Continue watching
Aug 27 GDP Reading May Signal Stability for Economy By Anna Shoup The U.S. economy contracted only slightly in the second quarter with gross domestic product decreasing by an annual rate of 1 percent, another sign that the nation's economic situation could be stabilizing. Continue reading
Aug 26 Simon Johnson on Consumer Protection By Business Desk Editor’s note: Today’s segment in our continuing series of video conversations with economist Simon Johnson, author of the popular Baseline Scenario blog, focuses on the Obama administration’s plan to reform consumer protections for financial products. At one point,… Continue reading
Aug 26 Why Isn't Single Payer on the Table in the Health Care Debate? Question: I am the slightly nervous person who you interviewed recently on Broadway and 30th Street. We spoke briefly about jobs, the economy, and when and if the green shoots will sprout. I wanted to tell you that the… Continue reading
Aug 25 White House Projects U.S. Debt Will Nearly Double in Coming Decade Fallout from the recession is expected to drive up the government's budget deficit by $9 trillion over the next decade, $2 trillion higher than a May estimate, according to a report issued Tuesday by the White House. Continue reading
Aug 25 Simon Johnson on Bank Bonuses and 'Too Big to Fail' By Business Desk Editor’s note: The clip today in our continuing series of video conversations with economist Simon Johnson, author of the popular Baseline Scenario blog, which Paul Krugman calls a “must read,” concerns whether bank bonuses are deserved and whether… Continue reading
Aug 25 Obama Taps Bernanke for Second Term at Fed Ending speculation that he might appoint a new central bank chief, President Obama said he would nominate Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke for a second term Tuesday as the administration continues its efforts to stabilize the embattled U.S. economy. Continue reading