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Paul Krugman on the ‘Cartoon Physics’ of the 2008 Crash
Economist Paul Krugman discusses the causes of the 2008 Crash with Paul Solman.
If Big Banks Were Allowed to Fail, Would the FDIC Need a Bailout?
Question: Some have said that big banks, like Citi or Bank of America, should have been allowed to fail. Given their size, could the FDIC really have covered the insured deposits? Or would the…
If Banks Just Changed Their Accounting Rules, Why Do They Need Bailout Money?
Question: If the banks are doing just hunky-dory due to the change in accounting rules, then why do they need any bailout money? Paul Solman: Hunky-dory? You might find this online etymology of the term amusing. I have to…
Simon Johnson on China and the U.S. Economy
Paul Solman: The second in this week’s series of video exchanges with Simon Johnson of the Peterson Institute of Economics, MIT, and (formerly) the IMF, concerns China.
Question: What is the actual amount that banks have “lost” if banks still had to follow mark-to-market rules? My understanding is that our large banks would be insolvent by almost a trillion dollars if they had to declare what…
After the Treasury Department released its plan today to rid banks of so-called “toxic assets” by enticing private investors to partner with the government, Paul Solman answered questions on the basics of the plan. What exactly are…
Question: China’s Premier Wen Jiabao said today he was “worried” about China’s $1 trillion investment in U.S. securities. So, should the United States be worried about his worry? Paul Solman: In response to any economic problem these days, I’m…
Question: Can you explain why, when these huge companies collapse, the bleeding isn’t slow and steady? Is it that they cannot forecast months ahead of time and see the end approaching? Or, have they just been operating with leveraged assets…
Question: What are mark-to-market rules? And should they be changed? Paul Solman: When it comes to the current crisis, this is the question (or one major question): To “mark to market” or not to “mark to market”? Consider a…
