The Business Desk

Does Studying Economics Make You Republican?

Paul Solman: There’s a fascinating post up on the New York Times economics blog that touches on a question explored first, as far as I know, by the great Cornell economist Robert Frank with collaborators Tom Gilovich and Dennis Regan.

Q&A: Ask Roubini and Taleb Your Questions on Stimulus Spending, U.S. Debt

Back in 2006, economist Nouriel Roubini and scholar Nassim Taleb shared some words of warning about the state of the financial and housing markets. On Tuesday night's NewsHour, we speak with both of them again…

Will the United States Experience a ‘Jobless Recovery’?

Question: Paul, I have read some of your letters on a “jobless” recovery. To the point, do you think our nation will experience a jobless recovery? Right now I can’t even buy one! Paul Solman: Can’t buy a recovery…

Is it Time for a Resurgence of the Austrian School of Economics?

Question: Hello Paul! Do you ever plan to present the ideas of economists that adhere to the Austrian School of Economics (Students of Von Hayek or Von Mises)? Their understanding of the nature and causes of the business cyle…

Is Oil Drilling in the U.S. Necessary for ‘Oil Independence’?

Question: I’m befuddled by the “oil independence” movement that is neatly summarized by the slogan “drill baby drill.” This somehow tries to persuade the nation that foreign oil is the enemy. I believe that the vast majority of our foreign…

Economics and Emily Dickinson

Paul Solman: As longtime viewers of the NewsHour may recall, our economics team has very occasionally ventured off the beaten beat to cover other issues. When headed to New York last week for an upcoming story, we found ourselves within…

Should We Invest in Retraining American Workers Affected by Globalization?

Question: Paul, with all the concern about stagnant or declining wages in the U.S., has anyone pointed out that wages in other parts of the world are rising? Is there no joy for them? Isn’t the relevant question in a…

An Update on Out-of-work Executives

Paul Solman: Last summer, we did one of our favorite stories — “favorite” in the sense that it really taught us something about the grim state of the job market in the throes of the Great Recession, and the…

2010 Graduates Still Headed for Wall Street

Paul Solman: On the show tonight, Harvard economist Ben Friedman argues that schools like his are channeling graduates into finance — at a cost of society as a whole. No, the Ivy League doesn’t make crooks out of its students,…

How Should I Invest If I Just Want to Preserve What I Have Now?

Question: I am 60 yrs old and have decided that I want to preserve exactly what I have in my 401k right now. Nearly all of my assets reside there. It has been a long up-and-down ride since first investing…