Your Call 032608 What is the state of our economy?

What is the true state of U.S. economy and how did we get here? On the next Your Call, we'll take a look at the current U.S. economic crisis. By the end of this year, 20 million Americans could have mortgages worth more than the value of their homes. 63,000 jobs were lost last month, the biggest drop since July 2003. And the U.S. dollar continues to weaken. Has the economy slipped into recession? How are you being impacted by the economic crisis? And what are the solutions? It's Your Call, with me, Rose Aguilar, and you.

Guests:
Rep. Barbara Lee

Dean Baker is co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

Robert Pollin, professor of economics and founding co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

Click to Listen: What is the state of our economy?

Your Call 112707 The Falling Dollar

What explains the rapidly falling value of the U.S. dollar? On the next Your Call, we'll speak with economists about how the dollar's groundbreaking lows are affecting the U.S. economy. Earlier this month, the dollar dropped to a 26-year low against the British pound. And this past week, it hit a record low against the euro. How does its decreased value affect the U.S. in terms of trade and wages? The dollar is still at the center of financial markets around the world, so how are countries like China responding? It's Your Call with me, Rose Aguilar and you.

Guests:
Ronald I. McKinnon
Professor of International Economics, Stanford University
 
James K. Galbraith
Chair in Government/Business Relations at the School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin, and chair of Economists for Peace and Security.
 
Click to Listen: The Falling Dollar