Economy

The bailout plans from the U.S. and other countries do seem to be calming nerves in the financial sectors at least a little bit. Kai Ryssdal asks MIT economist Simon Johnson if this is the beginning of the end.

Small industrial cities get a lot of attention during presidential campaigns. Commentator Angela Glover Blackwell says they don't have to fade away after November. The new administration and the cities themselves can help ensure those cities' growth.

Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain say they have starkly different plans to restore the U.S. economy. But in reality, Steve Henn reports, the candidates' policies are moving closer together.

The financial downturn in Russian markets is affecting an unlikely area: English football. Some of the super-rich Russians who own U.K teams have lost a lot of money. London Bureau Chief Stephen Beard reports on how that's playing out.

With markets doing, well, better, what's going on with the rest of the economy? Another way of asking that question: Are we in a recession? Kai Rysdall brings up the dreaded "R" word with economist Steve Fazzari

The idea of having the Treasury Department take stakes in selected banks is to provide them with cash to start making loans again, not to keep it to themselves. Janet Babin wonders if banks will agree to that.

Have the financial rescue plans done anything yet to encourage banks to start lending again? So far, the major credit benchmarks aren't moving much. Senior business correspondent Bob Moon reports.

We've yet to spot a guy walking around with a sign that says "the end is nigh," but the chatter on Armageddon and Rapture Web sites is heating up. Sean Cole decided it was time to check in with a few "end time economists."

Charities are taking a blow from the economic crisis, as are emerging-nation businesses that rely on loans and profits. Commentator Edward Miguel warns of the consequences of heightened poverty.