Feb 03 Watch Spending, Tax Cuts in Stimulus Package Provoke Fierce Debate in Senate Opponents of the stimulus package moving through the Senate are skeptical of the bill's increasing size, and of certain proposals they claim would not effectively boost the economy. Senators Jack Reed and John Thune debate the measure. Continue watching
Feb 03 Was the Wall Street Money Real or Imagined? Question/Comment: Could you explain where all the money went that supposedly vanished during the Wall Street meltdown? Who has it? Was it imaginary or did it really exist? Paul Solman: All Wall Street values are imaginary. All money is imaginary. Continue reading
Jan 16 Are You Moving in With Friends to Save Money? Question/Comment: I heard Paul Solman say yesterday… wait, you are Paul Solman… that the economy is so bad, lots of people are now moving in with friends to save money. Is this really true? Paul Solman: In the interests of… Continue reading
Dec 11 What is the "Real Economy"? Question/Comment: I’m confused by the term “real economy.” Lots of people are using it, but no one has explained it that I can find. It’s something different than what Wikipedia defines as not the “virtual economy.” What’s going on?… Continue reading
Nov 11 Watch Help for Burdened Mortgage Borrowers Offers Costs and Benefits U.S. homeowners have been among the hardest-hit by the global economic meltdown. In the first of a series, analysts discuss the benefits and flaws of governmental and lender recovery plans, including Citibank's offer to modify loan terms for those falling… Continue watching
Oct 31 Watch Stocks Remain Volatile After Worst Month in Decades Wall Street has endured its worst month in 21 years yet its best week in 34 years. The markets continue to remain unsettled on news of consumer spending cutbacks and investors' fears. The Wall Street Journal's economics editor analyzes the… Continue watching
Oct 09 How could a U.S. domestic problem become a global liquidity crisis? Question/Comment: How could a U.S. domestic problem (the housing bubble) become a global liquidity crisis between banks putting all banks and consequently the economies worldwide in trouble? What needs to be done to prevent a global economic meltdown? Paul Solman:… Continue reading
Oct 07 Watch Federal Reserve Employs Tools to Ease Credit Fears Global markets continued to fluctuate Tuesday, as the Federal Reserve announced plans to buy up short term debt in a bid to ease strain on the credit sector. Reporters and analysts examine the Fed's moves. Continue watching
Sep 29 Could property prices be temporarily "set" at the value of the total mortgage on the property? Question/Comment: If real estate is indeed the basis of our current economy, surely we cannot let it free fall. Could property prices be temporarily “set” at the value of the total mortgage on the property? And on any new property… Continue reading
Sep 26 Is the principle of "buyer beware" the dominant principle in the American system? Question/Comment: Are you willing to argue that the subprime mortgage practices that started this problem can be deemed to be fraudulent in any way? Should anyone be convicted of anything for the devastation wreaked upon so many home buyers by… Continue reading