Jul 09 Why are many oil-producing countries still unable to solve their chronic poverty problem? Question/Comment: With the record world petroleum prices, why is it that many oil-producing countries, such as Mexico, Venezuela, Nigeria, are still unable to solve their chronic poverty problem? Shouldn't the oil boom generate more jobs for the masses… Continue reading
Jun 30 Iraqis Open Oil to Foreign Firms to Boost Output By PBS News Hour The Iraqi government opened six of its oil fields to international bidders Monday as the nation attempts to increase daily production by 60 percent, leaving the door open for top Western companies to tap into the world's third largest oil… Continue reading
Jun 26 Why don’t we hear government and private businesses pressuring to revitalize the U.S. rail system to help reduce the oil crisis? Question/Comment: Why don't we hear the government and private businesses pressuring to revitalize the US rail system to help reduce the oil crisis? I thought the rails were the most fuel-efficient form of transportation. Paul Solman: From a… Continue reading
Jun 18 Watch McCain and Obama Tout Differing Energy Plans Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain are honing their stances on climate and energy policy, focusing on issues like the federal gas tax and offshore drilling. Advisers for each campaign examine the energy policy debate. Continue watching
Jun 18 President Urges Congress to Lift Offshore Oil Drilling Ban By PBS News Hour Amid soaring gas prices and increased debate over energy policy, President Bush urged Congress Wednesday to end a 27-year ban on offshore drilling in U.S. coastal waters before its Fourth of July recess. Continue reading
Jun 17 What are the pros and cons for denominating oil worldwide in U.S. dollars? Question/Comment: What are the pros and cons for denominating oil worldwide in U.S. dollars, versus in some other currency or basket of currencies? Paul Solman: For whom? The big pro, from the US point of view, is that… Continue reading
Jun 09 High Fuel Prices Lead to Protests in Europe By PBS News Hour Truck drivers in Spain and Portugal blocked roads Monday to protest soaring global fuel prices, which also caused the national average price of gasoline in the United States to rise above $4 per gallon over the weekend. Continue reading
Jun 06 Watch Unemployment Rate Jumps as Economic Woes Mount The nation's unemployment rate hit 5.5 percent in May as employers cut some 49,000 jobs, providing a fresh snapshot of a still-struggling U.S. economy. Mark Zandi, chief economist with Moody's Economy.com, explains the new Labor Department report and what it… Continue watching
Jun 05 How much of the recent rise in oil price is caused by the decline of the dollar? Question/Comment: How much of the recent rise in oil price is caused by the decline of the dollar? Paul Solman: The easiest answer – but it’s a crude one – is the amount by which the… Continue reading
Jun 03 Watch ‘Guns, Germs, and Steel’ Author Discusses Costly Crude and the Future of Oil In another of the NewsHour's ongoing 'Costly Crude' series, geography professor and famed author Jared Diamond discusses the future of oil in view of current high prices. Continue watching