Jul 30 “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… Continue reading
Jul 29 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… Continue reading
Jul 28 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… Continue reading
Jul 27 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… Continue reading
Jul 26 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… Continue reading
Jul 23 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… Continue reading
Jul 23 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… Continue reading
Jul 22 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… Continue reading
Jul 21 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… Continue reading
Jul 20 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. Continue reading