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.
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What's This "Public-Private Partnership" Mean?
By 4.7.09
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.
What Is Mark To Market?
By 2.3.09
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.
Why The Fed Is Making "Bad Banks," And Why That Could Be Good
By 1.14.09
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.
Help! I Bought A Pirated Copy Of Windows!
By 12.11.08
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.
What The Hell Is Leveraging?
By 12.9.08
Leverage leverage leverage. Everyone’s talking about it, but what does it mean?
Video: How Credit Cards Become Bonds
By 11.26.08
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.
Consumerist On Marketplace Talking About 6 Ways To Cancel Cellphone Contracts So You Can Get Yor iPhones
By 6.29.07
Marketplace interviewed us about our 6 tips for canceling your cellphone so you can get an iPhone. We told people to die…
Consumerist On Marketplace
By 3.6.07
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…)
Consumerist on Marketplace in .mp3
By 3.20.06
One week ago today, The Consumerist was on Marketplace on public radio that was nationally broadcast.
The Consumerist Could Be on NPR Any Second Now
By 3.13.06
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.
We May Be On NPR Tonite
By 3.10.06
Ian Chillag for NPR Marketplace’s interviewed us this week about the “Worst Company in America” poll. The bit may be broadcasting tonight at 5pm EST. We should know more by 2:30pm.
