Feb 25 Are We Overreacting to Unemployment Numbers? Question/Comment: In the early ’80’s unemployment was over 10 percent. I’m old enough to remember what the economy was like at that time. It wasn’t pretty given interest rates, but on the other hand we weren’t considering massive government funding… Continue reading
Feb 20 Watch Investors' Hopes for Turnaround Dim as Markets Plummet As fears over the economic crisis continue to erode investors' confidence, markets at home and abroad are feeling the effects. Financial analysts discuss how the markets relate to the realities of the economic turmoil. Continue watching
Feb 19 Watch Public, Bankers, Analysts Debate Merits of Obama's Foreclosure Plan Reaction in the banking world and among the public to President Barack Obama's plan to ease home foreclosures has proven mixed. Analysts debate the plan's merits and examine what the measure may mean for homeowners and lenders. Continue watching
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