Consumer confidence vs. consumer sentiment

Aug 28, 2012
Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains the difference between consumer confidence and consumer sentiment.
Shoppers walk down the Third Street Promenade outdoor shopping mall in Santa Monica, Calif.
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Got a topic for our next Whiteboard video? Submit your ideas!

Aug 28, 2012
Help us break down complex financial topics into easy-to-understand analogies. Post a comment suggesting the topic of our next Whiteboard video and you could win a signed copy of Paddy Hirsch's new book "Man vs. Markets"

Man vs. Markets: Simplifying the language of Wall Street

Aug 28, 2012
Marketplace's senior producer of personal finance breaks down economics plainly and simply in his new book, "Man vs. Markets."
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Explaining what blind trust is with sausages

Aug 17, 2012
Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney says he put his investments in a blind trust to avoid any conflict of interest. So what exactly is a blind trust? Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains with a sausage factory analogy.
Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney says he put his investments in a blind trust to avoid any conflict of interest. So what exactly is a blind trust? Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains with a sausage factory analogy.
Marketplace

What's a floating-rate note and how does it work?

Aug 6, 2012
The Treasury Department is planning to roll out a floating-rate note program in about a year. But what is a floating-rate note and why do we need one? Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains with a boat analogy.
The Treasury Department is planning to roll out a floating-rate note program in about a year. But what is a floating-rate note and why do we need one? Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains.
Marketplace

Eurobond: An explainer

Jul 10, 2012
What exactly is a Eurobond and why are so many people interested in having them? Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains with a little help from the three little pigs.
What exactly is a Eurobond and why are so many people interested in having them? Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains with a little help from the three little pigs.
Marketplace

For public good, not for profit.

Explaining the Fed's 'Operation Twist' with diamonds

Jun 26, 2012
The Federal Reserve's most recent policy move is simply a way of driving down interest rates. But how does it work? Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains Operation Twist with a simple analogy.
The Federal Reserve's most recent policy move is simply a way of driving down interest rates. But how does it work? Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains Operation Twist with a simple analogy.
Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images

Why is Spain causing so much pain?

Jun 20, 2012
Spain's debt costs are rising and some fear the nation may soon need a full-scale bailout. Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains the big problem with Spain, using a housing analogy.
A euro coin with the Spanish flag in the background. Spain's debt costs are rising and some fear the nation may soon need a full-scale bailout. Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains the big problem with Spain, using a housing analogy.
Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty Images

Why a bank run is bad

Jun 1, 2012
A bank run occurs when customers run down to the bank and demand their money back. So, why can't the bank just return the cash? Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains using a human heart analogy.
A bank run occurs when customers run down to the bank and demand their money back. So, why can't the bank just return the cash? Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains using a human heart analogy.
Daniel Roland/AFP/Getty Images