PBS News Hour - Making Sen$e

One of the business sectors hit hardest by the novel coronavirus pandemic has been air travel. Passenger volume is down a stunning 96 percent in the U.S., while airline losses have topped $300 billion worldwide. Despite canceled flights, travelers are not easily able to get their money back. Meanwhile, pilots and other staff worry for their safety. Economics correspondent Paul Solman reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Many Americans affected by the coronavirus pandemic are struggling to pay their rent when they have lost income and haven't yet been able to secure unemployment money. Missed rent, in turn, adds up to landlords who can't pay their mortgages or property tax. And then cities and states will struggle to provide the basic services that tax payments fund. Paul Solman reports on this "looming cascade." PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

A sector of the economy that is being hit especially hard amid the coronavirus pandemic is the restaurant industry. In normal times, Americans were spending roughly as much money on dining out as they were at grocery stores. With restaurants now closed, more than 3 millions jobs have been lost nationwide. Paul Solman reports on the impact on establishments in the Washington, D.C., metro area. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The coronavirus pandemic is causing immense economic damage. The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits has surged as businesses nationwide close down and are forced to lay off workers. Has the country ever experienced anything like this? Paul Solman talks to Harvard University economist Ken Rogoff, whose book "This Time is Different" examines the history of financial crises. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The fallout from the 2008 global financial crisis revealed that some of the world's most powerful banks were involved in reckless financial dealings. Germany's Deutsche Bank took a particularly aggressive approach -- the consequences of which are still playing out now, more than a decade later. Paul Solman talks to The New York Times' David Enrich, who has written a new book on the subject. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Many Americans plan to save for retirement in their 50s. But what happens if you're laid off at that age instead? According to researchers, the situation is common, and older workers have a harder time finding a new job -- especially one that pays their previous salary. Economics correspondent Paul Solman talks to 59-year-old Jaye Crist, who works three jobs for 70 percent of his former income. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Economist Robert Frank studies peer pressure and how its power can be leveraged for good. In his new book, "Under the Influence: Putting Peer Pressure to Work," Frank explains the idea of "behavioral contagion," which he says can drive people to do what's right. Paul Solman talks to Frank about applications for fighting climate change and real-life examples in Frank's hometown of Ithaca, New York. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Organized labor in the American workforce has declined since the 1980s, with many unions struggling to attract workers as companies voice opposition to them. But in Las Vegas, one union has broken through to much of the city's hospitality sector -- and done so by involving its membership in all of its operations. Paul Solman reports on how this new model of organization is driving results. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Collectively, Americans owe nearly a trillion dollars of medical debt, and Congress is trying to figure out a policy response. But in the meantime, economics correspondent Paul Solman reports on an unusual non-profit's effort to relieve the burden of medical debt for those in need. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders