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SAC insider trading charges, explained

Jul 25, 2013
The criminal indictment of SAC Capital is all about the misuse of material of non-public information ... otherwise known as insider trading.
Lawmakers are considering yet another bill to ban insider trading. But the term "insider trading" seems open to interpretation. Senior Producer Paddy Hirsch helps us understand what it is and why it's a big deal.
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Fabrice Tourre's trial: The fabulous translation

Jul 16, 2013
A former Goldman Sachs trader known as "Fabulous Fab" has been found liable in a mortgage securities fraud case. During the case, a judge asked to ban jargon. But because bankers aren't able to resist -- and for your own knowledge -- here's a primer to help.
Fabrice Tourre (L), executive director of the structured products group trading for The Goldman Sachs Group, is sworn in while testifying before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Investigations Subcommittee on Capitol Hill on April 27, 2010 in Washington, D.C.
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You need to care about China's credit crunch: Here's why

Jun 24, 2013
China's tightening up on its lenders, and that might slow the country down a big. That shouldn't be too much a problem for the rest of us, right?
A man buys subway tickets with Chinese yuan banknotes in Beijing, China. This week, Japan and China will begin to trade currencies without going through the U.S. dollar.
Cancan Chu/Getty Images

Kids' crazy sports costs offer tax perks

Jun 21, 2013
A listener responds to our conversation about expensive sports programs for kids.
Charles County, Md., is a new suburb filling up with families determined to help their children succeed. Konner Jackson, 11, plays three sports and is in his all-county orchestra.
Scott Tong/Marketplace

Bernanke's tape: Who's afraid of rising rates?

Jun 20, 2013
Fed chair Ben Bernanke says rising interest rates are a good thing. But good for whom, exactly?
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
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Opportunity cost: A simple Whiteboard explainer

Jun 13, 2013
Economists love to use the term "opportunity cost." In fact, you've probably heard it before. But what is it exactly? Senior producer and Whiteboard expert Paddy Hirsch explains.
Economists us the term "opportunity cost" all the time. Do you know what it means? 
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For public good, not for profit.

Fiat money: It has nothing to do with the car

May 22, 2013
Your dollar bill isn't worth the paper it's printed on. Why? Because it's a fiat currency. Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains.
Your dollar bill isn't worth the paper it's printed on. Why? Because it's a fiat currency. Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains.
Marketplace

Turning public radio on its head

May 6, 2013
Changing the public radio production process by making listeners the focus and subject of the show.
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