Apr 08 As the Amount of Money in Circulation Increases Rapidly, How Does the Fed Prevent Hyperinflation? By Business Desk Question: If the Fed and Treasury have increased the amount of money in circulation by $1.6 trillion in an effort to stave off deflation in the near term, how does the Fed take this money back out of circulation to… Continue reading
Mar 19 Is the Federal Reserve Public or Private? By Business Desk Question: Is the Federal Reserve “federal” as the name implies, or is it as “federal as Federal Express,” meaning a private, for-profit corporation? I’ve heard it both ways and would like the answer clarified by a hard-hitting reporter whose willing… 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
Oct 24 Watch Shields and Brooks Look at Election Strategy, Financial Crisis Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks take a look at candidates' campaign strategies for the final stretch of the election season and the search for answers to the global financial crisis. Continue watching
Oct 23 Watch Greenspan Admits ‘Flaw’ to Congress, Predicts More Economic Problems Former Fed Chair Alan Greenspan told Congress Thursday the economic crisis unveiled "a flaw" in his view of world markets. Economic analysts discuss his testimony and legacy. Continue watching
Oct 23 Greenspan Calls Financial Crisis a ‘Credit Tsunami’ By PBS News Hour In testimony before Congress Thursday, former Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan said that the current financial crisis is a "once in a century credit tsunami" that will continue to impact the U.S. economy, spurring more job losses to come. Continue reading
Oct 22 Foreclosure Rates for 3rd Quarter Up 70% From Last Year By Admin, PBS News Hour New data released Thursday show the number of homeowners caught in the foreclosure crisis grew by more than 70 percent in the third quarter compared with the same period last year. Continue reading
Apr 29 Can Fed come up with a better system for encouraging long-term savings? By Business Desk Question/Comment: I inherited some money, retired, and moved to Portland, Ore. Now that I have money in the bank, and the Fed has been lowering interest rates, I've been wondering exactly how our banking system actually works. When the Fed… Continue reading
Mar 21 Watch Rubin: ‘Complexity, Uncertainty’ Shade Economic Issues Robert Rubin, who served as treasury secretary during the Clinton administration and is currently the chairman of the board of directors at Citigroup, evaluates the state of the U.S. economy and the role of government intervention in recent economic troubles. Continue watching
Jan 21 Watch Bernanke Put to Test as U.S. Economy Struggles Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has called for government action to revive the slowing U.S. economy, in a key test of his tenure as the head of the central bank. Two business reporters consider how Bernanke is responding to the… Continue watching