Sep 11 How will the taxpayers pay if Fannie and Freddie Mac fail? Question/Comment: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, we are told, are so big, we can’t allow them to fail. We taxpayers could end up footing the bill for as much as $200 billion. Where will that money come from? How will… Continue reading
Sep 11 When running as intended, what cost difference does Fannie and Freddie make to the mortgage payment of the average house? By Business Desk Question/Comment: How do other nations subsidize housing (to the same end that Fannie and Freddie do in the U.S.)? When running as intended, what cost difference does Fannie and Freddie make to the mortgage payment of the average house? If… Continue reading
Sep 03 Has anyone ever done a study of household income? Question/Comment: Has anyone ever done a study of medium household income to compare what households think they can save to what economists think those households can save? Maybe even further broken down by age group, hopefully indicating wisdom/discipline? Can these… Continue reading
Aug 22 Does the U.S. export domestic oil? If so, how much, to where and why? Question/Comment: Does the U.S. export domestic oil? If so, how much, to where and why? Paul Solman: U.S. oil exports are up to 1.6 million barrels a day, according to a recent Reuters report. That’s 9 percent of total refining… Continue reading
Aug 20 The “Whale Oil Myth” This post is hopelessly long-winded, and not even prompted by a viewer question, but by a criticism I stumbled upon while scouring the Internet. As I searched for something economist Lester Lave had said about oil prices in one of… Continue reading
Aug 15 How do speculators affect the price of crude oil? Question/Comment: I would like to understand how speculators affect the price of crude oil. I’d like to know who these people are (in general) and how they operate. Paul Solman: I’m on record on this page (and elsewhere)… Continue reading
Aug 15 How can the U.S. government be continuously providing billions of dollars to various countries (we have trillions of dollars in debt)? Question/Comment: I have always enjoyed your professional discussions and news coverage. Could you please help me understand how the U.S. government can continuously be providing billions of dollars to various countries (we have trillions of dollars in debt)?… Continue reading
Aug 12 Can you explain “moral hazard” in how it increases the cost of health care? Question/Comment: Your report on “moral hazard” was really outstanding. Now, try explaining how it increases the cost of health care. Paul Solman: As with any insurance, if you’re covered for your health, you might take more risks than… Continue reading
Aug 11 What can be done about today’s unemployment statistics? Question/Comment: What can be done about the fact that in today’s unemployment statistics, there are only four times as many whites unemployed as blacks, despite there being six times as many whites in the labor force? Paul Solman:… Continue reading
Aug 05 The “experts” all seem to be on the side of the status quo. Why can’t we hear from people inside the industry who really want to reform it? Question/Comment: With all the discussion of the mortgage crisis, there is still hardly any mention of actually cleaning up the mortgage industry. The "experts" all seem to be on the side of the status quo, but maybe this is contributing… Continue reading