Feb 11 Forecasting Our Economic Future Paul Solman: Historians sing of what has passed; journalists, of what is passing; economic forecasters, of what is to come. Over the years, and especially during presidential campaigns, we’ve featured the forecasting model of Yale economist Ray Fair here… Continue reading
Feb 10 Watch In Other News, Oil Prices Plunge, General Motors Announces More Job Cuts In other news of the day, the price of oil plunged after the energy department predicted shrinking demand, and General Motors announced it will cut 10,000 jobs. Continue watching
Feb 10 Watch Geithner Revamps Bank Rescue Plan The Treasury Department outlined an overhaul of the financial rescue plan Tuesday as the stimulus bill moved forward. Economists and analysts react to the developments. Continue watching
Feb 10 As a Stimulus, Would it Work to Give Money to Americans to Cover Their Mortgage or Credit Debt? By Business Desk Question/Comment: As a stimulus to the economy, would it work to give money to Americans to cover their mortgage or credit debt? Paul Solman: Any spending is a stimulus. You might take a few minutes to read, as I just… Continue reading
Feb 10 Congress to Mesh $800 Billion Stimulus Bills By Admin, PBS News Hour The Senate on Tuesday approved an $838 billion economic stimulus package of spending and tax cuts that now must be reconciled with the House's $819 billion version. President Barack Obama is pushing to get the plan signed by mid-February. Continue reading
Feb 10 Rekindling the Electronic Book's Future: Amazon Unveils Updated Reading Device By PBS News Hour Despite Amazon's unveiling of the latest version of its electronic reading device, the Kindle, to the delight of many bookworms Monday, it appears that bookshelves, libraries and backpacks have not been rendered obsolete -- at least not yet. Continue reading
Feb 10 New Bank Rescue Plan Aimed at Easing Credit By PBS News Hour Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner announced Tuesday a strategy to overhaul the widely criticized bank bailout fund that is aimed at unclogging credit markets that provide loans to consumers and businesses. Continue reading
Feb 10 Are Companies Able to Function Without Loans? Note from Paul Solman: We haven’t had a “guest vetter” here at the Business Desk for some months. But interviewing MIT’s Simon Johnson the other day for a piece on ‘good bank… Continue reading
Feb 09 Watch Other News: Geithner Makes TARP Changes; 4 U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner finalized a plan outlining changes to the TARP plan Congress passed last year, and four U.S. soldiers were killed in Iraq Monday in a suicide car bombing. Continue watching
Feb 09 More from 'Bad Bank vs. Good Bank' While awaiting a response to my answers to your questions from MIT’s Simon Johnson, who is about to become this quanda’s newest guest vetter, perhaps it would be interesting to read a bit… Continue reading