Mar 31 Watch G20 Leaders to Tout Competing Ideas on Recovery Some European leaders are at odds with President Obama's economic agenda, which encourages more stimulus spending. Analysts assess the challenges at this week's G20 summit. Continue watching
Mar 27 Was Depression-Era Debt as High as It Is Now? Question: When we hear comparisons between today’s economy and that of the Great Depression, I wonder: Had as many people and institutions been as highly leveraged then as now? Were personal and institutional debt as high then as they are… Continue reading
Mar 19 Watch Germany Navigates Course Through Economic Slump German economic minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg speaks with Paul Solman about the country's view on economic stimulus measures and how Europe is handling the global financial crisis. Continue watching
Mar 18 Why Are Pension Funds Investing in Hedge Funds? Question: Why were pension funds allowed to “invest” in a hedge fund? Hedge funds are nothing more than gambling. Paul Solman: Because pension funds are supposedly big enough and therefore sophisticated enough to know what they’re doing and take considered… Continue reading
Mar 17 Watch When the Government Writes Checks, Where Does the Money Come From? With billions of dollars paid out or promised for financial industry bailouts and the stimulus bill -- and more requests on the way -- Paul Solman looks at where the government is getting the money to pay for the rescue… 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
Dec 23 I'm Not Sure It's My Responsibility to Go Out and Shop to Keep Businesses Afloat. By Business Desk Question/Comment: It seems to me there’s been a shift in market thinking in the recent past. I’m not sure that it’s my responsibility to go out and shop to keep businesses afloat; I always thought that it was business’ responsibility… Continue reading
Dec 16 Federal Reserve Cuts Key Rate to Record Low By Admin, PBS News Hour The Federal Reserve cut a key interest rate to an all-time low target range of zero to 0.25 percent Tuesday in an effort to fight the deepening recession. 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
Dec 03 Riots Break Out as Zimbabwe Faces Cholera Epidemic, Hyperinflation By PBS News Hour Doctors, teachers and union members clashed with riot police in the streets of Zimbabwe's capital of Harare as they protested the country's deepening economic meltdown and a cholera epidemic that has been blamed on poor infrastructure. Continue reading