Economy Topics

Democracy Now! stories, posts and pages that relate to Economy

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  • Austerity-2

    Why Austerity Kills: From Greece to U.S., Crippling Economic Policies Causing Global Health Crisis

    In their new book, "The Body Economic: Why Austerity Kills," economist David Stuckler and physician Sanjay Basu examine the health impacts of austerity across the globe. The authors estimate there have been more than 10,000 additional suicides and up to a million extra cases of depression across Europe and the United States since governments started introducing austerity programs in the aftermath of the economic crisis. For example,...
    May 21, 2013 | Story
  • Cyprus-protest-1

    A People's Revolt in Cyprus: Richard Wolff on Protests Against EU Plan to Seize Bank Savings

    The eyes of the financial world are on the small Mediterranean island of Cyprus today. The government of Cyprus has brokered a last-ditch $13 billion bailout deal with European officials to stave off the collapse of its banking sector. Under the deal, all bank deposits above approximately $130,000 will be frozen and used to help pay off the banking sector’s debts. An earlier version of the deal collapsed last week when Cypriots took to the...
    Mar 25, 2013 | Story
  • Greenwald-obama

    Glenn Greenwald: Starting with Fiscal Cliff, Obama's 2nd Term Rests on Organizing, Not Cheerleading

    President Obama will open deficit reduction talks on Friday with a call for a $1.6 trillion tax hike on corporations and the wealthiest Americans over the next 10 years. Obama and House Speaker John Boehner are sitting down to avert the so-called "fiscal cliff" of expiring tax cuts and automatic spending reductions set to take effect at the end of the year. We’re joined by Guardian columnist Glenn Greenwald, who says the protection...
    Nov 14, 2012 | Story
  • Amy_bainport

    Amy Goodman's Fireside Chat with Workers Set to Lose Their Jobs After Decades at Bain-Owned Plant

    Democracy Now!’s Amy Goodman speaks with three workers at the Bain-owned Sensata Technologies factory in Freeport, Illinois, all of whom are camping in a tent city called "Bainport" across the street from the factory. Dot Turner has worked there for 43 years, Cheryl Randecker for 33 years, and Bonnie Borman for 23 years. All three will lose their jobs in November. [includes rush transcript]
    Sep 20, 2012 | Web Exclusive
  • Paul_ryan_jamesville

    Paul Ryan's Hometown of Janesville, WI Recovers with Federal Aid GOP VP Candidate Claims to Oppose

    With Republican Rep. Paul Ryan joining the Republican ticket for the White House, his hometown of Janesville, Wisconsin, is now in the national spotlight. Thousands have struggled with unemployment in Janesville since General Motors shut down its century-old plant there in 2008, causing mass layoffs. As the town tries to get back on its feet, Ryan has said Janesville has become a microcosm for the economic woes facing the nation. But much of its...
    Aug 14, 2012 | Story
  • Bsteele

    Part 2: Barlett and Steele on Media, Govt. Failure to Hold Wall St. Accountable for Financial Crimes

    In part two of our interview with the investigative duo James Steele and Don Barlett, they talk about the media’s failure to hold Wall Street or politicians accountable for financial crimes and mismanagement — topics covered in their new book, "The Betrayal of the American Dream." They also discuss attacks on Social Security, and campaign finance reform. [includes rush transcript]
    Aug 01, 2012 | Web Exclusive
  • Offshore_tax

    Exhaustive Study Finds Global Elite Hiding Up to $32 Trillion in Offshore Accounts

    A new report reveals how wealthy individuals and their families have between $21 and $32 trillion of hidden financial assets around the world in what are known as offshore accounts or tax havens. The actual sums could be higher because the study only deals with financial wealth deposited in bank and investment accounts, and not other assets such as property and yachts. The inquiry was commissioned by the Tax Justice Network and is being touted...
    Jul 31, 2012 | Story
  • Matt_taibbi

    Matt Taibbi Explains Wall Street's "License to Steal," Offshore Tax Havens and Private Equity Firms

    In part two of our interview with Matt Taibbi, he describes recent Wall Street scandals — including a decade-long Wall Street scandal that drained money from every county and state in the United States — and notes not a single bank executive has faced individual consequences. He also explains how Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s former firm, Bain Capital, and others have used private equity to raise money to conduct...
    Jul 30, 2012 | Web Exclusive
  • Button-nader

    Ralph Nader: 30 Million Workers Would Benefit from Raising Minimum Wage to 1968 Level

    In 2008, Barack Obama pledged to raise the minimum wage every year once elected, but the hourly rate of $7.25 hasn’t increased since 2007. Low-wage workers now make far less than they did four decades ago. Last week Illinois Democratic Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. introduced the Catching Up to 1968 Act of 2012. It draws its name from the idea that the federal minimum wage would be $10.55 an hour now if it had kept up with inflation over the past 40...
    Jun 15, 2012 | Story
  • Button-webex-stiglitz

    Part 3: Joseph Stiglitz on Ways to Lessen Inequality in the United States

    In an extended interview about his new book, "The Price of Inequality," Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz offers several recommendations for a reform agenda. [includes rush transcript]
    Jun 06, 2012 | Web Exclusive