Dec 31 Watch 9:29 What trends distinguished the U.S. economy over the past decade? As the year comes to a close, we look back at the past decade in the American economy -- the first without a recession since record-keeping began in the 1950s. While unemployment remains at a historic low, wage growth has… Continue watching
Dec 12 Watch 9:12 Americans are drowning in medical debt, so this nonprofit is buying — and forgiving — it By Paul Solman Collectively, Americans owe nearly a trillion dollars of medical debt, and Congress is trying to figure out a policy response. But in the meantime, economics correspondent Paul Solman reports on an unusual non-profit’s effort to relieve the burden of medical… Continue watching
Sep 27 Watch 11:27 China’s massive Belt and Road initiative builds global infrastructure — and influence By Nick Schifrin, Dan Sagalyn China’s Belt and Road Initiative is the most expensive infrastructure project in history. Chinese companies are constructing roads, pipelines and railroads across the globe. But they are also building China’s influence, and critics in the U.S. and Asia worry Belt… Continue watching
Feb 10 Watch 4:27 Consumers may lose protections in proposed payday lending changes By PBS NewsHour In a major win for the payday lending industry which gives quick loans at exorbitant interest rates, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is proposing changes to regulations that protect borrowers from being trapped in long-term debt. Ken Sweet, Associated Press’… Continue watching
Nov 28 Debt of some U.S. businesses at historically high levels, Fed reports By Marcy Gordon, Associated Press American corporations have elevated their debt loads to potentially risky levels, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday in a report that raised concerns about the financial system 10 years after the 2008 crisis erupted. Continue reading
Jul 21 Watch 10:41 Greece’s debt relief plans come at high price for residents By PBS News Hour Eight years ago, Greece’s financial crisis threatened the value of the euro and led to the world’s largest bailout in history. As the country approaches the end of the bailout program next month, unemployment rates remain high and foreclosures loom… Continue watching
Oct 14 Watch 9:55 More older Americans than ever are struggling with student debt By Megan Thompson, Mori Rothman The nation’s $1.4 trillion student debt burden doesn’t just fall on young graduates, it’s affecting older Americans, too. The number of people age 60 and older with student loans has quadrupled in the last 10 years. NewsHour Weekend’s Megan Thompson… Continue watching
Jun 24 Illinois could be 1st state with ‘junk’ credit due to budget By Sara Burnett, Associated Press Illinois is on track to become the first U.S. state to have its credit rating downgraded to "junk" status, which would deepen its multibillion-dollar deficit and cost taxpayers more for years to come. Continue reading
May 05 Watch Can Puerto Rico climb back from bankruptcy and shrinking population? By PBS News Hour Puerto Rico essentially filed for bankruptcy this week in order to restructure more than $120 billion in debt and pension obligations. With the economy mired in a slump, the government is reducing public services, pensions are likely to be cut… Continue watching
Mar 15 Column: By saddling students with debt, we’re depriving them of self-reliance By Steve Gardiner The burden of college debt will hang on our current students for years, but depriving them of the sense of pride and dignity they could develop by advancing their own lives could last a lifetime. Continue reading