Jul 23 Watch Pay Czar Accuses 17 Big Banks of Giving Executives Hefty Bonuses The Treasury Department's pay czar Ken Feinberg on Friday accused 17 Wall Street banks of overpaying executives during the financial crisis after receiving bailout money, but said the banks hadn't violated any laws. Jeffrey Brown discusses the matter with the… Continue watching
Jul 21 Why Do CEOs Make So Much Money? Question: Why do CEOs make so much money? The answer must be supply and demand, but I would like to hear a good analysis of the cost benefit. I do realize too however: Would… Continue reading
Jul 09 Why Do Tube Drivers Earn More than Bus Drivers in the UK? Robert Frank: A British reader posted the following query on my UK publisher’s web site: “Why do tube drivers get paid so much more than bus drivers?” An American economist trying to field questions about markets in the UK… Continue reading
Jul 03 Why Are Newspapers Sold in Vending Machines That Allow You to Take More Than One? Robert Frank: Here’s another product-design question, this one posed by my former student Brendan Quigley. “Why,” he asked, “are newspapers, but not soft drinks, sold in vending machines that allow customers to take more units than they paid for?”… Continue reading
May 29 Watch States Experiment with Controversial Taxes to Pay for Highway Construction Some states are experimenting with controversial new taxes to pay for highway construction. Special correspondent Lee Hochberg reports from Oregon, where officials are looking into charging drivers a tax based on the number of miles they drive in lieu of… Continue watching
May 15 How Does Executive Pay Compare Around the World? Question: How does U.S. executive compensation compare to their counterparts around the world, such as Japan, Europe, Russia, Turkey? Paul Solman: I don’t know what constitutes executive compensation in Russia, but compared to Japan, Europe, Turkey (Turkey?) and pretty much… Continue reading
Dec 02 Are These Economic Problems Caused By Too Many People on Earth? Question/Comment: Is the final answer to all these economic problems the fact that there are now too many people on Earth? For example, how can U.S. labor make any money when Chinese workers will work for a nickel an hour?… Continue reading
Nov 09 Watch Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s Colleagues Debate His Legacy Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's surprise resignation has triggered debate over his relationship with the military, his handling of the Iraq war and his efficacy as leader. A former colleague and a former assistant secretary of defense discuss the legacy of… Continue watching
Jun 01 Watch Immigration Reforms Could Change Hiring Practices Proposed immigration reforms in Congress could change hiring practices. Continue watching