Ellen Frank

Issue 243

Dear Dr. Dollar:

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, has a website that purports to present evidence that the wealthiest group of Americans historically pay more taxes than middle- or low-income folks. Their sources include the U.S. Treasury Department, the Office of Budget and Management, and the Ce

Ellen Frank Sep 1, 2002

Issue 241

Dear Dr. Dollar:

During the course of a single day, a stock can go up and down frequently. These changes supposedly reflect the changing demand for that stock (and its potential resale value) or changing expectations of a company’s profitability. But this seems too vague to me. How can these factors be so volatile?

Ellen Frank May 1, 2002

Issue 240

Dear Dr. Dollar:

The Federal Reserve keeps fussing with the “discount rate” and everybody thinks it’s important. This is, if I understand it right, the rate banks charge each other for overnight loans. Now presumably someone makes money on the interest that’s charged and someone loses money (or makes less) when the

Ellen Frank Mar 1, 2002

Issue 239

Dear Dr. Dollar:

I am trying to figure out what propels corporations toward a compulsive expansion. I can think of the following: 1) Competition with domestic and foreign rivals; 2) need for markets; 3) need for raw materials; and 4) advanced technology requiring greater investments and thus greater profits. Would t

Ellen Frank Jan 1, 2002

Issue 238

The Hidden Costs of Private Accounts

As Bush's handpicked commission on Social Security grapples with the details of diverting Social Security revenue into private

Ellen Frank Nov 1, 2001

Issue 238

Social Security Q&A

"Social Security Q&A" was inspired by a plea from Larry Siegel, a D&S reader

Ellen Frank Nov 1, 2001

Issue 235

Making Patients Pay

U.S. Health System Puts Profits First

Ellen Frank May 1, 2001

Issue 228

Saint Greenspan?

So extravagantly has the media been lauding Alan Greenspan, one would almost think he had been nominated for sainthood rather

Ellen Frank Mar 1, 2000

Issue 227

Are Labor Standards Elitist?

A fundamental demand of many of the Seattle anti-WTO protesters is that trade agreements embody enforceable labor rights. Officials from

Ellen Frank Jan 1, 2000

Issue 224

Bye Bye IMF?

A New Blueprint for the Global Economy

Ellen Frank Jul 1, 1999

Issue 223

The Myth of the Social Security Trust Fund

Since the 1980s, American workers have been paying more into the Social Security system than retirees are taking out. These

Ellen Frank May 1, 1999

Issue 220

Stocks Run Amok

First, the bad news. The 1990's bull market, with its stratospheric stock prices and double-digit annual returns, was

Ellen Frank Nov 1, 1998