Encouraging dialogue on the toughest issues, each month Businessweek.com asks the big questions facing our economy. Share your answers with us below

How Can Washington Help Business Create Jobs?

Al Hunt wants short-term stimulus and long-term deficit reduction; Caroline Baum opts for a flat tax Read more »

Winning the Small Business Vote

Small businesses in the U.S. are suffering. The political party that helps them first is likely to get their backing in November

What Role for Government in American Business?

Washington's intrusion in business is polarizing—but most Americans agree that the economy can't recover without innovative jobs policy

Slide Show: How Would You Get the Government to Help American Business?

Businessweek.com asked 25 individuals, ranging from firefighters to billionaires, what government can do to help American business. Their answers are distinct and illuminating

Discussion

How can Washington help American business?

Banks to Small Business: Online Theft? Tough Luck
Banks are holding companies responsible when their accounts are raided by cybercrooks

U.S. Small-Business Index Falls to 13-Month Low on Outlook
The National Federation of Independent Businesses optimism index decreased to 88.1, the weakest reading since July 2010

Why the Recovery Eludes Small Business
Rather than limit the fix to stoking consumer demand, policymakers need to boost credit and find new ways to help troubled industries

Patent System Overhaul Passes Senate
Small business groups say the legislation will benefit large companies over independent inventors, create a rush to the patent office, and establish onerous review procedures

Make Health Insurance Cheaper for Small Employers
To combat rising premium costs for companies with few employees, the government should require insurers to standardize policies

Give Payroll Tax Cuts to Employers, Not Employees
Rather than extend the employee payroll tax cut, the government should give reductions to employers that hire workers. This will do more to boost job creation

In the Debate Room

Dear Government, U.S. Business Doesn’t Need You

It’s not Washington’s job to help out private enterprise. Pro or con?

Mercury Madness

TechShop Creations

The MBA Life: Cornell

Five Occasions on Which Mark Zuckerberg Deigned to Wear a Jacket

Workspaces

Cocoa in the Shade of War

Charts

Campaign Spending: Obama vs. Romney

Greek Exit Could Trigger a Run on European Banks

SpaceX Craft on Track to Dock With Space Station

Apple Design Chief Jonathan Ive Gets Knighted

Treasury Won't Name China a Currency Manipulator

Cohen: Anything Can Happen and Usually Does

Discussion

Multimedia

More from Businessweek.com

Banks to Small Business: Online Theft? Tough Luck Banks are holding companies responsible when their accounts are raided by cybercrooks

U.S. Small-Business Index Falls to 13-Month Low on Outlook The National Federation of Independent Businesses optimism index decreased to 88.1, the weakest reading since July 2010

Why the Recovery Eludes Small Business Rather than limit the fix to stoking consumer demand, policymakers need to boost credit and find new ways to help troubled industries

Patent System Overhaul Passes Senate Small business groups say the legislation will benefit large companies over independent inventors, create a rush to the patent office, and establish onerous review procedures

Make Health Insurance Cheaper for Small Employers To combat rising premium costs for companies with few employees, the government should require insurers to standardize policies

Give Payroll Tax Cuts to Employers, Not Employees Rather than extend the employee payroll tax cut, the government should give reductions to employers that hire workers. This will do more to boost job creation