About

We started this blog in mid-July 2007 [just when financial markets began to respond to the weakening US housing market], and since then the global economy has collapsed and we have had one of the longest and deepest global recessions since the Great Depression. We like to think the two aren’t linked – and so will continue blogging into the future. If there is no economic recovery by 2020 we may consider stopping.

The people

Matt Nolan is an economist at Infometrics (email: nolan.matt@gmail.com; matt@infometrics.co.nz. Work phone: 04-496-5290)

James Zuccollo is an economist at NZIER.

Agnitio : Some people think he is Matt’s intensely sarcastic, economically right of center alter ego, while that would be kind of cool (maybe I should create my own non-sarcastic left of center alter ego?), Agnitio must remain an enigma for various reasons. For those who care, he is currently doing a PhD in financial economics and his days are spent smiting the misapplication of economic theory.

Goonix is an economist working in industry. His classic  liberal views means that he is typically the most skeptical of the TVHE authors when it comes to government intervention in a market.

The Hand is a catch all guest post spot.  Generally when there is an issue we don’t care about, can’t really touch on, or don’t know enough about, we will try to get someone else to write on it.  If this person doesn’t want to use their own “name” then they can use this.

There are a few other commentators who are going to remain anonymous, but you can still trust them . Our commentators all have an economics bent (ie they understand the value of methodological individualism as a form of analysis), even if they are not all necessarily economists.

Anything we write is our own opinion, and has NOTHING to do with the organisations we are with, or even the other members of the blog- hence why we always argue with each other

What we do.

Given we weren’t really sure what we do, we are just going to copy this review from the March 2011 Air New Zealand domestic inflight magazine:

A one-stop-shop for discussion on topics as diverse as methodological individualism and whether chocolate will become as pricey as caviar (Conclusion?  No need to stockpile Dairy Milk just yet).  The Visible Hand Of Economics features the musing of several Kiwi economists; some named, like the prolific Matt Nolan, others anonymous.  Drawn together by their shared belief that the Government has a role to play in the economy, they haven’t turned their backs on the free-market philosophy.  Drop in for a thought-provoking read.

Contact us

If any other New Zealand economists would like to either write a guest piece, or a regular column, just send an email to Matt (email: nolan.matt@gmail.com; matt@infometrics.co.nz. Work phone: 04-496-5290).

Also, if you just want to contact us, email Matt.

And if you like Twitter, follow us here.