Oct 28 How Will the Fannie and Freddie Takeovers Affect U.S. Debt? Question: Can you explain how the U.S. government’s take over of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac affect interest on the debt now and in coming years? Paul Solman: No. Actually, I CAN explain, but… Continue reading
Oct 26 Why Doesn’t the Govt. Sponsor Jobs Programs Like Those During the Depression? Question: Why doesn’t the government sponsor jobs programs similar to those by Roosevelt during the Great Depression, such as rebuilding infrastructure, building new energy grids, alternative transportation, a decent bus system or train system? Paul Solman: But that’s what the… Continue reading
Oct 23 What Can We Do About “Too Big to Fail”? Question: What needs to happen so that we will have no companies “too big to fail”? Paul Solman: Come up with incentives that induce big companies to slim down, or disincentives that punish them if they don’t. What’s startling… Continue reading
Oct 22 Which Is Better for the Economy: Spreading Money Around or Spending It in One Place? Question: I have a “nanoeconomy” question. Most of us go to the grocery store once a week. Which would be better for the economy overall if everyone did it: to go to the same store every time, or to… Continue reading
Oct 21 What’s the Difference Between a Recession and a Depression? Question: What is the difference between a recession and a depression? I have been out of work since last November. It seems like a depression for me. I worked for a civil/structural consulting engineering firm for the past 11 1/2… Continue reading
Oct 20 How Can the Economy Be Growing While Unemployment Is Rising? Question: Your work on the economy is discussed at our dinner table, with my 15 and 16 year old sons, almost every night. You have made such a difference to our family in understanding the Global Economic Meltdown. My children… Continue reading
Oct 19 Retraining Workers Sounds Great. But For What Jobs? Question: Why does nobody discuss the fact that all the working and many middle class jobs have gone to China and the rest of Asia? Retrain workers — great — but retrain them for what? Paul Solman: You know… Continue reading
Oct 16 Frank Friday: A Bonus Economic Naturalist Post Editor’s note: From time to time, we get questions here at the Business Desk that feel designed for our frequent guest blogger Robert Frank, author of The Economic Naturalist: Why Economics Explains Almost Everything. Today, we’re happily… Continue reading
Oct 15 Are the Latest Foreclosure Numbers Good News or Bad News? The Business Desk: The headline on Bloomberg’s foreclosure story this morning: “U.S. Foreclosure Filings Jump 23% to Record in Third Quarter.” The headline on Reuters: “Foreclosures Fall for Second Straight Month.” Both it turns out, are correct. But don’t… Continue reading
Oct 15 Ask Alyssa Katz, Author of ‘Our Lot’, About Foreclosures and the Housing Crisis Editor’s note: The U.S. foreclosure crisis shows little sign of abating; while foreclosure filings fell last month, they remain near a record high, according to a report released today by real estate firm RealtyTrac. Journalist Alyssa Katz has… Continue reading