The Business Desk

“Socionomic” Theory Predicts Market Catastrophe

Question: During the financial crisis you enlightened us to the fractal geometry of Nassim Taleb and Benoit Mandelbrot. Recently the New York Times introduced the fractal geometry of the Elliott Wave and Robert Prechter’s gloomy forecast. What does…

Does the President’s Jobs Policy Conflict With His Climate Policy?

Question: Is the President’s jobs policy tanked by his climate policy? In Nov. 2007, you interviewed Tim Sullivan, CEO of Bucyrus, regarding his decision to keep equipment manufacturing jobs in U.S. Late last…

Would a Budget Surplus Bring Manufacturing Jobs Back to the U.S.?

Question: As I understand it, deficit spending by the federal government lowers the value of the U.S. dollar, causing a rise in cost of raw materials. Manufacturers outsource production because rising raw material costs narrow profit margins. Outsourcing of manufacturing…

Why do Companies “Stretch Out Their Payables?”

Question: I saw the story on SRC Electrical. The loan increase paradox was a good lesson. However, let me ask this question of you. What sort of payment terms do they give their…

Is a Stockbroker Better Than a Dart-throwing Monkey?

Question: I have heard that the actual return on investment (after fees) using a stock broker is usually less than investing in an index fund and about the same as amateur investors or even a monkey throwing a dart. Is…

Exploring Spain’s Underground Economy

(Watch a larger version of the video.) ]> Editor’s Note: Tonight on the NewsHour, Paul Solman wraps up his reporting from Europe with another look at Spain’s economic woes, which include a 20 percent unemployment rate. In the Web…

Can Individuals Lend to U.S. Companies?

Question: I watched your presentation on the small business credit crunch on June 21. I have funds getting less than 1 percent interest and would love to lend to a robust, expanding business that needs cash. If I can…

Despite Economic Woes, Spain’s Present Looks Brighter Than Past

(Watch a larger version of the video.) ]> Paul Solman: Jose Antonio Martinez Soler is a distinguished Spanish journalist who was tortured in the last year of the Franco dictatorship. (Those who read Spanish will find a not insubstantial…

Part II: Greek Prime Minister on the Financial Crisis, World Economy

(Watch a larger version of the video.) ]> Editor’s Note: Paul Solman is reporting from Greece this week about the country’s financial crisis. Above, watch the second half of his interview with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou about how…

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on the Financial Crisis

(Watch a larger version of the video.) ]> Editor’s Note: Tonight on the NewsHour, Paul Solman reports on how the people of Greece are responding to the austerity measures the country has imposed to deal with its debt crisis.