May 18 How Does Cutting Dealers Save the Automakers Money? Question: I keep hearing that GM has to shed brands and cut dealerships, but I don’t understand it. Is the logic simply that GM makes too many distinct carlines to be profitable given its total sales volume? Economies of… Continue reading
May 15 Watch Other News: Markets Fall on Auto Dealership Closings In other news, the markets fell on news of auto dealership closings, and consumer prices were unchanged in April. Continue watching
May 15 Watch Auto Dealership Closings Reverberate Across Economy General Motors and Chrysler announced the closings of hundreds of dealerships in an effort to bring the companies back from the brink of bankruptcy. Analysts examine the impact of the moves. Continue watching
May 15 GM Plans 18 Percent Reduction in Dealer Network By PBS News Hour A day after Chrysler unveiled plans to close a quarter of its dealerships, General Motors followed suit Friday by telling about a fifth of its dealers their franchises will be terminated by late next year. Continue reading
May 15 How Does Executive Pay Compare Around the World? Question: How does U.S. executive compensation compare to their counterparts around the world, such as Japan, Europe, Russia, Turkey? Paul Solman: I don’t know what constitutes executive compensation in Russia, but compared to Japan, Europe, Turkey (Turkey?) and pretty much… Continue reading
May 14 Watch Analysts Mull Treasury’s Calls for Derivatives Regulation The Obama administration has called for Congress to tighten regulation on risky trade derivatives, the kind of complicated financial instrument that brought down insurer AIG. Analysts examine what the move means for financial markets. Continue watching
May 14 Watch Senate Moves Closer to Reining in Credit Card Companies The Senate neared approval Thursday of a bill to rein in credit card companies, which could mean new rules will be in place by early next year. Ray Suarez reports. Continue watching
May 14 Chrysler Looks to Slim Down Dealership Network By PBS News Hour Embattled automaker Chrysler wants to shutter about 25 percent of its 3,200 U.S. dealerships by next month, stating in a bankruptcy court filing Thursday that the network is antiquated and has too many stores competing with each other. Continue reading
May 14 What’s the Story With Regulating Derivatives? By Business Desk Question: What’s going on with the just-announced regulatory reform of derivatives? Paul Solman: Plenty. And you could say it’s about time. One of the leading scandals of recent years (and that’s no easy feat, considering how crooked a track… Continue reading
May 13 Watch New ‘New Deal’ May Help Boost the Arts In partnership with KQED in San Francisco, NewsHour correspondent Spencer Michels reports on the prospect for a new "New Deal" for the arts amid the economic downturn. Continue watching