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 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
Mar 13 Why Are So Many Companies Collapsing So Suddenly? Question: Can you explain why, when these huge companies collapse, the bleeding isn’t slow and steady? Is it that they cannot forecast months ahead of time and see the end approaching? Or, have they just been operating with leveraged assets… Continue reading
Mar 12 Watch Madoff Pleads Guilty to Massive Wall Street Fraud Bernard Madoff pleaded guilty Thursday to fraud charges totaling an estimated $65 billion. Analysts discuss the case and the prospects of victims recovering any money. Continue watching
Mar 06 Unemployment Woes Hit Cities, Suburbs Harder than Most of U.S. By Admin, PBS News Hour As the country absorbs the newest round of national unemployment data Friday, the real-world effect in local communities is proving a mixed picture. Continue reading
Mar 05 What Would Happen if Washington Let Big Banks Fail? By Business Desk Question: What would happen if the government let Citibank and Bank of America, et al., just fail? Paul Solman: The possibilities are various, intriguing, and terrifying. Let’s say Citi goes under. The government has to honor all of the company’s… Continue reading
Mar 04 Does the FDIC Really Protect My Deposits? Question: With as much debt as our government is in, does the FDIC really make my bank deposits safe? And if the FDIC had to pay millions of… Continue reading
Mar 02 Watch Markets Plunge After Government Adds Billions to AIG Rescue Stocks tumbled after the government expanded aid to struggling insurer American International Group and the company reported a huge quarterly loss. Analysts examine what this could mean for the broader financial outlook. Continue watching
Feb 26 Watch President Plans Major Overhaul of Tax, Spending Systems President Obama's budget plan outlines large-scale changes in tax policy, calling for $318 billion of tax increases over the next 10 years for the wealthiest individuals and families combined with tax cuts for the middle class. Analysts discuss the impact… Continue watching