The Business Desk

In Case You Missed It: The Amazing Adventures of ‘Savings Man’

Paul Solman speaks to the founder of an organization funding creative public service ads on saving money. You can listen to the audio or read the transcript of the segment here. ]>…

Web Extra: Finland’s Unusual Take on the Recession

And now for something almost completely different: an advertising campaign that urges consumers to SPEND their way out of the recession, instead of save their way through it. We ran a snippet of it…

Why Should We Save Big Banks?

Question/Comment: I am a traditional liberal democrat who is in favor of a large stimulus package that focuses on job creation and helping out states. I can not understand the need for further bank bailouts. I do not understand the…

What Causes Mortgage Rates to Rise and Fall?

Question/Comment: What causes mortgage rates to rise and fall? Will the stimulus or the remaining TARP money have any affect on mortgage rates? I heard of an attempt to temporarily lower rates to four…

At What Point Does Increasing Productivity Damage a Consumption-Based Economy?

Question/Comment: At what point does increasing Productivity damage a consumption-based economy? Can this be discussed with respect to the recent historically high levels of productivity in “modern industrialized” economies with relatively inelastic labor pools? Paul Solman: Most economists will tell…

Should the Government Spend or Give Out Tax Cuts?

Editor’s Note: Paul recently answered “Five Good Questions” on the economy for the PBS Engage blog. You will also be able to find those answers here on the Business Desk all week. Question/Comment: There seems to be…

Why Won’t Banks Lend Money?