Paddy Hirsch is the Senior Producer, Personal Finance at Marketplace. He oversees the production of content related to personal finance for all of the Marketplace shows and for Marketplace.org. He is the author of the book Man vs Markets, Economics Explained, Pure and Simple, and he is the creator and host of Marketplace Whiteboard, a video explainer of financial and economic terms.

Hirsch joined Marketplace in 2007 just as the credit crunch that preceded the 2008 financial crisis began to take hold.  He was an editor of the New York Bureau and the entrepreneurship desk throughout the crisis and he spearheaded Marketplace’s financial markets coverage as the economy slipped into recession. He was awarded a Knight Fellowship at Stanford University in 2010, and he returned to Marketplace in July of 2011. He published his first book, Man vs Markets, in August 2012.

Hirsch got his start in journalism with an internship at the BBC in Glasgow, Scotland. He became a field producer for CNBC in Hong Kong and later was a consultant to the Open Broadcast Network in Bosnia. He has been an editor for Direct Capital Markets, Institutional Investor Newsletters, Standard & Poor’s, and the Vietnam Economic Times.

Hirsch attended Campbell College in Belfast and received a bachelor’s degree in French and International Studies from the University of Warwick. He is a Knight Fellow and was a Webby honoree in 2009.

Hirsch was born in Weymouth, England, raised in Ireland and currently resides in Los Angeles.  During his free time, he is a runner, mountaineer, surfer and consumer of East and Southeast Asian cuisine.

Features By Paddy Hirsch

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VIDEO: Quantitative Easing Explained

What does that mean? What does that mean? What does that mean? QE2 explained. Sort of! Created by: Omid Malekan
Posted In: quantitative easing, video
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A little help here, please

So, I've been racking my brain to find a good and simple way to explain the relationship between the Fed and the Treasury. And it turns out I may...
Posted In: The Fed, treasury
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Why the Fed is buying back Treasuries and how that helps

Here's an email I got earllier this week:...
Posted In: stimulus, The Fed, Treasuries
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Good point, Sue

I like getting mail from people who listen to the show and watch the Whiteboards. They make great suggestions, and good points about presentation....
Posted In: letter
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'Casino' banks targeted in Volcker Rule

The Volcker rule is a cornerstone of the Dodd-Frank financial overhaul. But what is it? Paddy Hirsch explains in this video from 2010.
Posted In: Volcker Rule
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Question on banks lending

From: Howard Goldberg Sent: Monday, April 12, 2010 9:31 PM To: Hirsch, Paddy Subject: Your White Board Explanations are great and fun....I...
Posted In: Banks, lending
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Fannie, Freddie and the Fed

The Federal Reserve said this week it will no longer buy mortgage backed securities from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Some people worry mortgage rates could rise as a result. Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains why.
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Subprime: A meaty explanation

The Federal Housing Administration is being criticized for underwriting subprime loans, which critics say could lead to another wave of loan failures. Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains subprime lending and its inherent risks.
Posted In: subprime
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Ratings conflict

Ratings agencies are paid by the sellers of the securities they rate. Critics say there's a conflict of interest there. Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains.
Posted In: ratings agencies
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Toxic banks?

Is there a flaw in the government's plan to deal with troubled banks?...

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