Jun 25 How Regulatory Reforms Will Affect Consumers (Cont.) By Business Desk Paul Solman: Last week, we featured a number of economists (and a journalist) responding to the new financial regulations proposed by the Obama administration. But no economic historians were among them. We’ve remedied that omission by asking Eugene… Continue reading
Jun 25 Will the Actions of the Fed and Treasury Keep Asset Prices Artificially High? Question: It seems to me like the Fed and the Treasury are trying very hard to keep asset prices high. The Fed has vastly increased the money supply, partly by lowering interest rates to zero, and partially through quantitative easing. Continue reading
Jun 24 In Case You Missed It: The Shape of the Recovery On last night’s NewsHour, Paul examined the debate raging over which shape the economic recovery might take. Some economists are predicting a V-shaped recovery — a steep period of decline followed by an equally steep period of growth. Others are… Continue reading
Jun 23 What’s the Relationship Between Inflation and Interest Rates? Question: I am confused about the cause/effect relationship between inflation and interest rates. Many economic talking heads claim that interest rates will rise if present monetary policy produces inflation. But the principle of supply and demand suggests that if… Continue reading
Jun 19 Making Sen$e 2.0 Attention all teachers, viewers, readers, skimmers, and occasional passersby: The second edition of our Economics-for-Everyone Web site, Making Sen$e, is now up and running. Please visit and please, please respond with suggestions as to what you’d like to… Continue reading
Jun 19 Instead of Capping Pay, Could the Government Police Banks’ Risk Models? Question: Instead of the government trying to prevent risky behavior by limiting bonuses and other compensation for the best performers in the finance industry, would it be possible for the government to review risk models that banks use? Paul Solman:… Continue reading
Jun 18 How Will the Regulatory Reforms Affect Consumers? Paul Solman: We asked a number of people in the personal finance business and others close to the credit crisis to weigh in on the Obama administration’s new consumer protection proposal. I’m struck by Doug Elliott’s admonitions, especially his last… Continue reading
Jun 17 Will the Administration’s Regulatory Overhaul Work? Question: How serious is the administration about true reform of the financial system? Are its plans likely to work? Or is regulation a can of worms, a Pandora’s box, and every other cliche that might be subsumed under the… Continue reading
Jun 16 Why Doesn’t the Government Simply Give Households Lots of Money to Stimulate the Economy? Question: One of the most popular suggestions I’ve heard for stimulating the economy is the federal government should give every household one or two million dollars. Would that work or would it create hyperinflation? Paul Solman: Let’s not be profligate… Continue reading
Jun 15 Why Is the Cost of Gasoline Increasing? Question: With U.S. oil stocks high and refiners at a low production rate, why is the cost of gasoline increasing at such a high rate? It makes you think that there is more to it than supply and demand. Continue reading