Jan 07 Why Has the Price of Oil Decreased So Significantly? Question/Comment: Why has the price of gas decreased so significantly? This seems way more than an incremental adjustment to supply and demand. Is there something non-linear going on? Paul Solman: Brace yourself for a very long answer. The price of… Continue reading
Jan 05 What is the Economic Impact of Military Spending? Question/Comment: I would like to know the impact of military spending on our economy. It seems like it’s a pretty hefty percentage of the annual budget, almost equal to that spent on Social Security; more than is spent on Medicare. Continue reading
Jan 02 Previews of Next Week and a Mideast Trip By Arts Desk We continue to receive many wonderful comments and responses to specific stories and to the entire Art Beat effort. But the news is not always good. Continue reading
Jan 01 Watch Journalists Look Back on Tumultuous Financial Year The economy experienced an extraordinary year of volatility in 2008 with the collapse of major financial firms and huge market losses. Financial writers discuss the year's significance and the road ahead in 2009. Continue watching
Dec 31 For Arts Funding, 2008 Was a Rough Year As the clock ticks down on 2008's roller coaster of economic turmoil and time runs out for charitable giving this year, non-profits are under pressures they weren't feeling a year ago and communities are struggling to support art programs during… Continue reading
Dec 31 Are Ethics Taught in Finance and Business? By Business Desk Question/Comment: At one point during your report on teaching job skills to at-risk urban youth, I noticed a wall behind a student displayed a list of qualities to embrace: be honest, be accountable, among others. It almost seems cruelly… Continue reading
Dec 30 Consumer Confidence Hits Record Low By Admin, PBS News Hour More gloomy news emerged on the U.S. economic front Tuesday as consumer confidence fell to a record low in December and new data showed home prices dropped by the sharpest annual rate on record in October. Continue reading
Dec 29 Where Should I Spend My Hard Earned Money? Question/Comment: Ok, so being a good dog, I need to keep spending to help the economy. What are some of the best things to spend my hard earned, devalued money on? Paul Solman: That’s a very interesting question and not… Continue reading
Dec 26 Watch Shields, Gerson Reflect on Historic Year, Challenges Ahead After a year that saw a global economic crisis develop and a historic presidential election take place, Mark Shields and Michael Gerson look back on 2008's news highlights and discuss what to expect in the year to come. Continue watching
Dec 26 Watch With Economy in Shambles, Congress Turns Focus to Middle Class As the economy continues in a downward spiral, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle are concentrating on serving the needs of the middle class. Kwame Holman speaks to legislators preparing to tackle the economic crisis. Continue watching