Apr 06 Watch Months After Mumbai Attacks, Security Concerns Weigh on India Four months after a coordinated terrorist attack killed more than 170 in Mumbai, India is still plagued by outbreaks of violence despite some government efforts. NewsHour correspondent Simon Marks reports on the atmosphere ahead of the country's general election. Continue watching
Apr 01 If a Bank Has Toxic Assets, Can Another Division of That Bank Invest in the Toxic Asset Program? Question: Is it possible for a division of the bank holding toxic assets to participate in the [toxic asset] program? Paul Solman: Supposedly not, but there’s lots of buzz about how banks might in practice get around the obstacle… Continue reading
Mar 30 Why Is the Trade Deficit Important? Question: Please explain the trade deficit. What is it? Why is it important? Is it an indicator like taking someone’s temperature or is it a debt that has to be paid? Does it relate directly to our national debt?… Continue reading
Mar 27 Watch Historian Discovers Positive Lessons, Community Values From Great Depression Great Depression historian Robert McElvaine found that economic downturns can lead people away from conspicuous consumption to a more community-oriented way of life. Continue watching
Mar 25 Why Use 100 Days to Evaluate a New President? By Admin, PBS NewsHour From rescuing the U.S. from a deepening recession to re-examining U.S. strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan, President Barack Obama has set a busy agenda -- earning praise from some and questions from others on its ambitious scope. Continue reading
Mar 23 Should the Government Break Up Big Banks Into Smaller Ones? Question: Can the government loan the FDIC money (which banks will pay back through the FDIC) to take over Citibank and Bank of America, et al., pay off… Continue reading
Mar 19 Is the Federal Reserve Public or Private? By Business Desk Question: Is the Federal Reserve “federal” as the name implies, or is it as “federal as Federal Express,” meaning a private, for-profit corporation? I’ve heard it both ways and would like the answer clarified by a hard-hitting reporter whose willing… Continue reading
Mar 17 How Do We Get Banks Lending Again? Question: Given our collective financial plight and our need for credit to survive, how do we get banks to be banks again (read: lend)? Can it be legislated – and if not, how can we surmount our impasse? Paul Solman:… Continue reading
Mar 10 Watch Bernanke Calls for Overhaul of Financial Regulations Fed chief Ben Bernanke called Tuesday for a regulation overhaul to prevent future financial crises and monitor "too-big-to-fail" institutions. Analysts weigh the call for reform. Continue watching
Mar 09 What’s the Total Wealth of the United States? Question: With all this economic turmoil and talk of trillions of dollars, my question is: What is the total wealth of the United States? If the total U.S. wealth is, say, $100,000 trillion, then spending $1 trillion to help banks… Continue reading