Aug 18 Why Do Medical Costs Vary So Much Across the Country? Question: Why do medical procedure costs vary so much by region of the country? Paul Solman: I think the best answer I’ve come across is a piece in the June 1 New Yorker by the ever-excellent Atul Gawande, The… Continue reading
Jul 08 Why Does the London Tube Charge More If You Use a Paper Ticket? Robert Frank: Why does the public transport system in London charge significantly more for a tube or bus journey if you buy a paper ticket than it does if you use their Oyster prepaid card? In most cities… Continue reading
Jun 30 Why Do Drive-Up ATM Machines Have Braille Dots? Robert Frank: As promised yesterday, today’s economic naturalist question is one of my two all-time favorites from among the many thousands submitted over the years by former students. “Why,” Bill Tjoa wanted to know, “do the keypad… Continue reading
Jun 08 Key Players: Health Care Reform By PBS News Hour As the Obama administration's health care reform effort begins to pick up speed, a number of key voices are emerging in the legislative debate over the nation's health policy. Here's a look at some of the critical players. Continue reading
Jun 08 Health Care Reform Tops Obama’s Priority List By Admin, PBS News Hour With Congress poised to debate sweeping health care legislation in the coming weeks, President Barack Obama has renewed his focus on health care reform as a top administration priority. Continue reading
May 11 Health Industry Vows to Trim Costs By PBS News Hour Six leaders of the health care industry have told the White House they are willing to dramatically cut spending in order to assist the Obama administration in its goal of overhualing the American health care system. Continue reading
Apr 25 Medicare’s trust fund to run out by 2019? Then what? Question/Comment: Typically the Paul Solman features on the NewsHour are always among the show's most trenchant and perceptive. That is why I have been hoping that you could do a feature explaining the present financial situation of the Medicare Program. Continue reading
Mar 02 Watch Port Cities Work to Rid Air of Pollutants Air monitoring stations in communities adjacent to California ports record dangerous levels of nitrogen oxide as well as fine soot and sulfur oxides. The NewsHour reports on how port cities are working to combat the pollution. Continue watching
Nov 13 Watch Thousands of Would-be Nurses Denied Affordable Training Options Thousands of would-be nurses are waitlisted at community colleges -- the main affordable choice for them. At the same time, the United States is facing a nursing shortage and importing nurses from abroad because of the high demand. Continue watching
Nov 03 Watch Global Warming, Decline in Fish Stock Could Damage World Economy Two recent reports say the world's fish stock could be depleted in 50 years and global warming could take a severe economic toll on nations if dramatic measures are not undertaken. A science reporter explains. Continue watching