Sep 04 In a Difficult Job Market, Settling for Less By Business Desk Editor’s note: In a report that aired earlier this week about a Manhattan job fair, Paul spoke at length with Philip Mereday, a former executive who had been out of work for about a year. Mereday, a college graduate… Continue reading
Aug 28 Would Shortening the Workweek Stimulate the Economy? Question: Why doesn’t the federal government stimulate the economy by reducing the length of the workweek (the number of hours after which employees receive time-and-a-half pay)? Employers would respond by spreading the work load, which means more hiring and fewer… Continue reading
Aug 24 More on Our Correction to Friday’s Segment Paul Solman: There’s more to add to our earlier correction to Friday’s segment: We have heard from Social Security and it is indeed the case that benefits do NOT go… 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
May 29 What Led to the High Interest Rates of the 1980s? Question: What were the causes and circumstances that led to the high interest rates in the 80’s? Was it inability to effect a change or inaction in addressing the issue? Paul Solman: If by “interest rates” you mean the rate… Continue reading
May 11 What’s the Argument FOR Tax Havens? By Business Desk Question: I understand that President Obama is going after the use of offshore tax havens by U.S. corporations. My gut feeling is that he’s right to do this, but I’ve never really heard both sides of the argument. Is there… Continue reading
Dec 22 Why Ease Credit, But Not Increase Wages? Question/Comment: A basic truth in economics is that wages drive demand. Yet for the last 30 years wages have been stagnant or decreasing. Why do I hear only talk of easing credit, not increasing wages? Easy credit is what caused… Continue reading
Dec 07 Watch U.S. Job Growth Held Steady in Nov., Labor Dept. Says The U.S. Labor Department announced Friday that both job growth and unemployment remained steady in the month of November, despite problems in the housing and credit markets. New York Times economy reporter David Leonhardt evaluates the new job numbers and… Continue watching
Dec 19 Watch The Many Legacies of Andrew Carnegie Philanthropist and businessman Andrew Carnegie left a lasting impression on the American landscape. Correspondent Paul Solman looks at Carnegie's life, including how he made and gave away his money. Continue watching