Consumerist
explanations
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finance
VIDEO: Derivatives Are Sort Of Like A Pre-Ordered Turkey
The business and financial news are full of something called "derivatives." But, okay, what is that? You're not the only one who's wondering. That's why Paddy Hirsch from the public radio program Marketplace put together a whiteboard, some stick figures, and a bunch of metaphorical turkeys to explain it all to us. More » -
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marketplace
VIDEO: What Happened To All Of Those Toxic Assets?
Hey, remember the TARP program? If banks are now paying back TARP funds, then what happened to those toxic assets? Are they sitting in a canyon in Wyoming for the next 10,000 years? Not exactly. More » -
credit cards
Don't Put These Items On Your Credit Card If You Can Help It
A few months ago, we reminded you that your credit card company is building a psychological profile of you. But what about a short, convenient list of things that get credit card companies' notice? Marketplace has you covered. More » -
cellphones
Are Cellphone Exclusivity Deals Bad For Consumers?
Yesterday, four U.S. Senators sent a letter to FCC acting chairman Michael Copps requesting an investigation into whether exclusivity deals between handset makers and national carriers are ultimately good for consumers, and they plan to hold a hearing on the issue on Wednesday, June 16th. They join a growing number of people and organizations, including the Rural Cellular Association (RCA), who say exclusivity deals benefit no one but the carriers and manufacturers. More » -
explainers
Oh Noes It's The "Shadow" Banking System
It doesn't involve ninjas, but the "shadow" banking system is an important part of the US economy, it's the companies that loan money but aren't themselves banks. The loans they make aren't kept on the companies books, they're securitized and resold as bonds. White whiteboard and magic marker, Marketplace Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch argues this shadow banking system deserves it own bailout. More » -
explainers
What's This "Public-Private Partnership" Mean?
So the latest solution to the problem of these toxic assets on the banks' books is a "public-private partnership" between the government and the private sector...yawn what is he going on about, I wish I had a pancake...oh wait! Here's Paddy Hirsch from marketplace drawing stick figures on a whiteboard and explaining it all. Now we're talking.
The public-private partnership [Marketplace]
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videos
What Is Mark To Market?
One buzzphrase going around about the financial crisis is "mark to market." Some think banks are being overly punished by being forced to "mark to market" the investments they own, or price them according to current market value. As you can probably figure out, those assets have plummeted. Marketplace's Paddy Hirsch explains with his trusty whiteboard and stick figures what "mark to market" means, and what it means for the economy. More » -
bad banks
Why The Fed Is Making "Bad Banks," And Why That Could Be Good
Marketplace's Paddy "Sexycakes" Hirsch whips out the whiteboard to explain the how and why of the latest gimmick the Fed is deploying to ease the financial crisis. Now they're making "bad banks" which will go buy the toxic assets from the banks so they can clean up their books. Hopefully over time these assets will mature past their heavily discounted value and the taxpayers can make money on the deal. But if the situation deteriorates and too many of the assets go to zero, as some indeed may, then we'll be sitting on a big fat goose egg, again. Video inside. More » -
explainers
What Is Quantitative Easing?
Want to know a fancy word for printing new money? Meet "Quantitative easing," the Fed's weapon of last resort to try to prod banks to lend to each other and to companies. Marketplace's Paddy Hirsch is back with his whiteboard to explain how it all goes down. Video inside. -
piracy
Help! I Bought A Pirated Copy Of Windows!
Emily bought a very "high quality" pirated copy of Windows from an Amazon seller and didn't realize that anything was amiss for an entire year. More » -
leveraging
What The Hell Is Leveraging?
Leverage leverage leverage. Everyone's talking about it, but what does it mean? More » -
securitization
Video: How Credit Cards Become Bonds
We've heard lots about how mortgages get turned into tradeable securities, but they're not the only thing. No no no, there was far too much Chinese money not able to earn anything on T-bonds for us to let them lie. Credit cards can become asset-backed bonds too. Marketplace's Paddy Hirsch is back with his whiteboard and dry-erase markers to explain how it works. Video inside. More » -
media whoring
Consumerist On Marketplace Talking About 6 Ways To Cancel Cellphone Contracts So You Can Get Yor iPhones
Marketplace interviewed us about our 6 tips for canceling your cellphone so you can get an iPhone. We told people to die... More » -
media whoring
Consumerist On Marketplace
We had a lil' soundbite on American Public Media's Marketplace tonight for a story on Ruby Tuesday's installation of "ultra-secure" credit card transactions. (Remember, just because it's broadcast nationally on public radio doesn't mean it's NPR...) More » -
worst company in america
Consumerist on Marketplace in .mp3
One week ago today, The Consumerist was on Marketplace on public radio that was nationally broadcast. More » -
announcements
The Consumerist Could Be on NPR Any Second Now
So... we *might* be on NPR's Marketplace in about 30 minutes, (5pm, EST), talking about the Worst Company in America poll. That's about all we know. These crazy radio guys, they're editing up to like the last second the show goes on. Unlike us crazy blogger guys, who can edit weeks and days after. Tune in on the NPR live stream or check your local listings, both found on the website. More »
