Jan 31 ‘Revenge of the Electric Car’ Director Paine Discusses Renewed Optimism for Vehicle By Elizabeth Shell Filmmaker Chris Paine achieved notoriety with his 2006 documentary, "Who Killed the Electric Car?" Now he's back -- with a more sanguine sequel, "The Revenge of the Electric Car." Producing two stories about the electric car myself,… Continue reading
Jan 30 How Funny is the Chevy Volt? The Washington Post’s Professional Skeptic Gives It a Going Over By Elizabeth Shell As a preview to our Tool$ Tuesday feature (spoiler alert: we'll be looking at your car's carbon emissions), here's a truly surprising "review" of the Chevy Volt, the electric darling of the Detroit Auto Show earlier this month and… Continue reading
Jan 28 From the Pain in Spain to Taxes in Naxos: Merle Hazard’s Euro-Serenades All this week we've featured investment advisor Jon Shayne, aka Country-and-Western economist Merle Hazard, warbling his way through the European debt debacle. He started with the pain in Spain and moved on through Erin Go Broke to the… Continue reading
Jan 27 Ode to Germany: Merle Hazard, Backed by Beethoven By Elizabeth Shell Today's post introduces the fourth of country singer Merle Hazard's Euro-shanties, this one taking off on the Ode to Joy from Beethoven's 9th. Teutonic C&W. Merle (if not Beethoven) will do anything to educationally amuse. So will we. Continue reading
Jan 26 Paul Solman on the Economics of the Union By Elizabeth Shell What a relief: a SOTU address without the traditional partisan whack-a-mole standing ovations. "Date night's" civility - or, if you prefer, lack of passion - had the virtue of keeping Democrats and Republicans mostly in their seats. (Sitting… Continue reading
Jan 25 Erin Go Broke By Elizabeth Shell Today's post puts the economic woes of the Emerald Isle to music. The lyrics are Hazard's, though I confess to have taken crack at them myself and then, at some risk to my ego, sent both sets of lyrics --… Continue reading
Jan 24 The Pain in Spain Falls Plainly from Merle’s Brain By Elizabeth Shell The first of this week's series of posts from the ever-melodic, ever-economic Merle Hazard debuts today: a ditty on the plight of Spain. Continue reading
Jan 21 Merle Hazard Makes Sen$e: The Country Crooner Goes Global By Elizabeth Shell Friday’s post consists of a Web chat with the Elvis of economics, the Ferlin Husky of finance, the Charlie McCoy of micro, the Jimmy Dean of the dismal science — star of the country-and-western macrocosm, investment advisor Jon Shayne who… Continue reading
Jan 20 Desolate Detroit: The Forsaken City By Elizabeth Shell In its heyday it boasted nearly two million people; the world's premier industry (autos); the world's most popular music (Motown); and perhaps the country's most prosperous black middle class. But Detroit's population is down 50 percent; so are wages in… Continue reading
Jan 19 Buzz Words in 2020 Will Be Same as in 18th Century. At Least Economically-Speaking. By Elizabeth Shell Name: Sam Question: I immensely enjoy your segments on PBS. I am intrigued by the concept of trade, and the argument presented by many economists that it raises the standard of living in a country's economy even if it appears… Continue reading