Nov 07 What is the reasoning behind having the Fed, rather than the market, set short term interest rates? Question/Comment: Dear Mr. Solman: I’m hoping you will answer my question as to the reasoning behind or justification for having a committee (i.e., the Federal Reserve) setting the price of money, i.e., interest rate. It is generally accepted that it… Continue reading
Nov 06 Watch As U.S. Fiscal Woes Persist, Lawmakers Pledge More Aid The U.S. economy continued to falter as markets sank sharply Thursday for the second consecutive day. A chief investment officer and a journalist discuss congressional plans to craft a stimulus package later this month and weigh efforts by lawmakers to… Continue watching
Nov 06 President-elect Obama Sets About Crafting New Administration By Admin, PBS News Hour With the U.S. economy likely in recession and the country embroiled in two wars, President-elect Barack Obama and his staff have been quickly transitioning from campaign mode to preparing to govern with little time to celebrate his landmark victory. Continue reading
Nov 06 Will we ever pay down or even pay off the national debt? Question/Comment: Given the history of the ever increasing U.S. national debt and our fluctuating economy, how realistic is it that we will ever pay down or even pay off the national debt? We have never managed to maintain the necessary… Continue reading
Nov 05 Do you think Alan Greenspan really thought that the “bubble” would never burst? By Business Desk Question/Comment: It is my belief that Alan Greenspan is a strong follower of Ayn Rand’s philosophy of a free and unfettered economy. Do you think Greenspan really thought that the “bubble” would never burst? Paul Solman: Greenspan IS (or at… Continue reading
Nov 05 My conservative friends are convinced that this economic mess is the result of changes to Fannie and Freddie’s lending policies forced on them by the Democrats. Question/Comment: My conservative friends are convinced that this economic mess is the result of changes to Fannie and Freddie’s lending policies forced on them by the Democrats. My own theory identifies our chronic balance of payments as the chief culprit. Continue reading
Nov 03 Watch Across the World, Woes of Collapsed Bank Spread to Borrowers A European bank that lent millions to borrowers around the world, including a Wisconsin school district, needs a massive bailout, which has triggered financial woes among its clients. Charles Duhigg of the New York Times and Adam Davidson of NPR… Continue watching
Oct 31 Watch Stocks Remain Volatile After Worst Month in Decades Wall Street has endured its worst month in 21 years yet its best week in 34 years. The markets continue to remain unsettled on news of consumer spending cutbacks and investors' fears. The Wall Street Journal's economics editor analyzes the… Continue watching
Oct 31 When Economic Shifts and Elections Intersect: An Interview With Economist Ray Fair Paul Solman: Every presidential election year for awhile now, we’ve paid a visit to Yale professor Ray Fair. His computer model for predicting the race, based largely on economics, has become something of a national phenomenon… Continue reading
Oct 31 In Case You Missed It: Lessons of Great Depression Apply to Current Meltdown Editor’s Note: On Thursday, October 30, Paul Solman sat down with economist Eugene White and author Amity Shlae to talk about The Great Depression and what lessons can be gleaned from that era. Shlaes’ book is titled ‘The… Continue reading