Economy

Follow PBS NewsHour’s complete coverage of the Economy, Wall Street and other financial stories.

Question: I don’t understand the auto industry crisis. I infer that it is because we’re in a recession, and not many people are buying cars. Is that all of it, or is there something more? Paul Solman: Are you talking…

Question: How do we supervise and regulate the credit rating agencies which, so poorly and perhaps illegally overrated so many derivatives? Paul Solman: I don’t know. One proposed reform has been that the investors pay the ratings agencies for…

Question: Why is the gold standard such a bad idea? I know it is a discredited system, but having never studied economics, I don’t understand why. Right now, is our money just some arbitrary amount issued by the Federal Reserve?…

You can watch one of Paul’s recent Making $ense pieces, The Paradox of Thrift, below. Here are a few reader reactions and Paul’s responses. Question: I have a question related to your recent segment, Paradox of Thrift: Aren’t the…