Dec 16 Federal Reserve Cuts Key Rate to Record Low By Admin, PBS News Hour The Federal Reserve cut a key interest rate to an all-time low target range of zero to 0.25 percent Tuesday in an effort to fight the deepening recession. Continue reading
Dec 16 How Much Globalization Versus Nationalism/Protectionism is Needed Right Now to Resolve the Economic Crisis? Question/Comment: How much globalization versus nationalism/protectionism is needed right now to resolve the economic crisis? Paul Solman: Interesting. Your question prompts a warning. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, an attempt to protect American industry only eight months after the… Continue reading
Dec 15 Regarding the Bailing Out of Corporations, What is the Role of Their Board of Directors? Question/Comment: Regarding the bailing out of corporations like the automakers, what is the role of their board of directors? Do these board members not have any fiscal responsibilities for keeping their companies afloat? Non-profit board members have a fiscal responsibility… Continue reading
Dec 12 Watch Automakers Look to White House to Revive Bailout Hopes The White House said Friday it may use funds from the $700 billion financial bailout package to aid struggling U.S. automakers after the Senate rejected a rescue plan. Analysts discuss the debate over the bailout. Continue watching
Dec 12 Watch UAW Chief Gettelfinger Defends Position on Wage Cuts The White House said Friday it may use funds from the $700 billion financial bailout package to aid struggling U.S. automakers after the Senate rejected a rescue plan. UAW head Ron Gettelfinger explains his position. Continue watching
Dec 12 Why Aren’t the Big Three Automakers More Successful? Question/Comment: The Big Three seem to be successful in the rest of the world yet not here. Is it the fault of our government regulations, the costs associated with labor agreements here, or what? Paul Solman: I sent your… Continue reading
Dec 12 White House Weighs Action on Auto Rescue By Admin, PBS News Hour The White House said Friday it was considering tapping the $700 billion financial industry bailout fund to prevent the collapse of the ailing U.S. auto giants after the Senate failed to reach a compromise on a rescue package for Detroit's… Continue reading
Dec 11 What is the “Real Economy”? Question/Comment: I’m confused by the term “real economy.” Lots of people are using it, but no one has explained it that I can find. It’s something different than what Wikipedia defines as not the “virtual economy.” What’s going on?… Continue reading
Dec 11 U.S. Unemployment Claims Hit 26-Year High By Admin, PBS News Hour More than 570,000 people filed initial applications for jobless benefits during the first week of December, the highest one-week filing rate in 26-years, the Labor Department said Thursday. Continue reading
Dec 11 GOP Could Put Brakes on Auto Rescue Bill By Admin, PBS News Hour As a compromise deal between Democrats and the White House to extend $14 billion in emergency loans to struggling U.S. automakers moves forward, it faces strong opposition by some GOP lawmakers. Continue reading