Feb 09 In a Finite World, Can We Really Have Infinite Growth? Question/Comment: Given we live in a finite world, how can economists explain the viability of an economic system which demands infinite growth? Paul Solman: They’d be hard-pressed, I guess. But not necessarily stumped. I can think of three responses. 1)… Continue reading
Feb 06 In Case You Missed It: Bad Bank vs. Good Bank Paul Solman explores a solution to the financial crisis that’s gaining steam: creating “bad banks” and “good banks.” ]>… Continue reading
Feb 06 Senate Closes In on Deal for Stimulus Plan By Admin, PBS News Hour The Democratic-led U.S. Senate appeared to strike a deal Friday evening with key Republicans on a long-debated stimulus package to stem a deepening recession, news agencies report. Continue reading
Feb 06 Watch Good Bank vs. Bad Bank: Segregating Toxic Assets Might Help U.S. Economy Rebound Business correspondent Paul Solman explores the problem of banks holding toxic assets and explains how the Swedes successfully emerged from a similar economic crisis by splitting banks into "good" and "bad" categories. Continue watching
Feb 06 Watch In Other News, Stocks Rise on Wall Street, Calif. Budget Crisis Deepens Despite a dismal jobs report, the market rose as the Senate began debating the economic stimulus bill. California closed most of its government offices today due to its worsening budget shortfalls, forcing more than 200,000 state workers to stay home… Continue watching
Feb 06 Watch Gloomy Job Numbers Signal New Woes for Economy U.S. employers cut 598,000 jobs in January, bringing the unemployment rate to 7.6 percent, in another sign of the deepening recession. It was the worst one-month job loss since 1974. Continue watching
Feb 06 Economic Crisis May Take Toll on Health Services in Developing Nations By Admin, PBS News Hour As the global economic crisis continues to unfold, concern is growing over maintaining funding for health services in developing countries that rely on foreign aid to provide necessary treatments. Continue reading
Feb 06 Employers Slash 598,000 Jobs in January By Admin, PBS News Hour U.S. employers shed 598,000 jobs in January, pushing the unemployment rate to 7.6 percent in the latest sign of how the nation's labor market is retracting under the weight of the recession. Continue reading
Feb 06 Toyota Forecasts $5 Billion Fiscal Year Loss By PBS News Hour The world's largest automaker, Toyota Motor Company, said Friday it expects to post an annual net loss three times larger than expected and began a series of assembly line shut-downs in an effort to save jobs. Continue reading
Feb 06 Does it Make Economic Sense for Homeowners to Immediately Pay Off Their Mortgage? Question/Comment: Given that U.S. banks appear to need cash to stabilize themselves and begin extending credit, would it not make economic sense for homeowners with mortgages to pay off the balance of their loans as soon as possible if not… Continue reading