Mar 16 Should the Stimulus Be Spent on R&D Instead? Question: What is the approximate rate of return on investment in the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and other agencies that sponsor research in this country? At one time, I read that it was something like 1:17 (investment:return). Continue reading
Mar 16 How Much Responsibility Do Boards of Directors Bear? Question: It seems the press is ignoring the elephant in the banking bath tub: Members of each board of directors had responsibility to their shareholders, yet I never hear that being discussed. And I’ve only had a whiff of who… Continue reading
Mar 16 New Grads Increasingly Turning to Jobs in Service, Volunteer Sectors By Admin, PBS News Hour With the nation's unemployment rising to a 25-year high this month and the financial sector in turmoil, job prospects look bleak for many college seniors set to graduate this spring. Continue reading
Mar 13 Watch Global Financial Leaders Meet in London Global Financial Leaders, including World Bank President Robert Zoellick and U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, are gathering in London for a G-20 summit and are expected to discuss global financial regulation and taxation issues. Faisal Islam of Independent Television News… Continue watching
Mar 13 Watch Other News: OPEC Supply Cut Expected In other news, OPEC is expected to decide to cut oil production at its upcoming European meeting Sunday and closing arguments began in the trial on the Minnesota Senate vote recount. Continue watching
Mar 13 Watch Markets Rise, but Confidence in Economy Still Lags Wall Street marked its best run since November this week as President Obama worked to boost confidence in recovery moves. The Wall Street Journal's David Wessel offers insight. Continue watching
Mar 13 If China Is Worried About U.S. Debt, How Worried Should We Be? Question: China’s Premier Wen Jiabao said today he was “worried” about China’s $1 trillion investment in U.S. securities. So, should the United States be worried about his worry? Paul Solman: In response to any economic problem these days, I’m… Continue reading
Mar 13 Latin American Countries Worlds Apart in Economic Downturn By PBS News Hour With the global economy in a tailspin, some Latin American countries are feeling the effects of slumping trade and a drop in remittances from people in the United States, while others appear to have been spared for now. Continue reading
Mar 13 China Voices Concerns on U.S. Investments as G-20 Summit Begins By PBS News Hour China's Premier Wen Jiabao expressed concern Friday about China's massive holding of U.S. debt and Treasuries, appealing to U.S. leadership to make moves to restore economic health and insure the value of China's holdings. Continue reading
Mar 13 Why Are So Many Companies Collapsing So Suddenly? Question: Can you explain why, when these huge companies collapse, the bleeding isn’t slow and steady? Is it that they cannot forecast months ahead of time and see the end approaching? Or, have they just been operating with leveraged assets… Continue reading