Economy Aug 11 How Bad Is the Current Stock Crash? Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday. Photo by Jin Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images Editor's Note: Given the rollercoaster behavior of the stock market over the past few weeks, we checked…
Arts Apr 15 Making Sen$e: How Does Investing Create Jobs? Financial professionals work the phones on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York City. Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images. Paul Solman answers questions from NewsHour viewers and web users on business and economic news most days… By Paul Solman
Economy Apr 15 How Does Investing Create Jobs? Name: Scott Question: If my company's stock is currently $10 and then in a month goes to $20, how does this doubling show up on a company's balance sheet? And if it does not show up on a firm's balance… By Elizabeth Shell
Economy Jun 04 Which Taxes Offer an Opportunity to Be Progressive? Question: What other taxes offer an opportunity to be progressive besides income and inheritance taxes? Paul Solman: Great question. I hope school is still in session. One alternative tax would be a progressive…
Mar 26 Can Individual Investors Participate in the New Toxic Asset Plan? Question: Is there an opportunity for individual investors who are not super-rich to participate in the new Toxic Asset plan? Maybe something like a mutual fund, or the Treasury’s non-competitive bid process? Paul Solman: Supposedly yes. From an AP… Continue reading
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
Apr 17 How much of a drag is the current deficit on GDP growth? Question/Comment: Can you elaborate on the pro and con arguments behind our current account deficit? How much of a drag is it on GDP growth? Paul Solman: Pro: We get to buy more now… Continue reading
Feb 11 Where is the Fed rate cut felt in the economy? Question/Comment: A Fed rate cut presumably has a cost; where is that felt? Paul Solman: Encouraging folks who made bad decisions before – invested stupidly, say, in mortgage-backed securities – to invest stupidly again, since the Fed will bail them… Continue reading