The Finance Buff Meets The Incidental Economist

By Harry Sit

For the last two and half years, I have been the lone voice on this blog. I am pleased to announce I will have a guest blogger coming up shortly. He goes by the name The Incidental Economist, or TIE in short. He’s a real economist, with a background in physics and a Ph.D. in mathematics and statistics. I came to know him on the Internet. I love what he writes. He has also helped me tremendously with my posts. With a gentle nudge, TIE agreed to write some articles on my blog. It’s my honor to have him.

Here’s what TIE has to say about himself:

The Incidental Economist

I’m a health economist with an educational background in physics and engineering. After receiving my PhD in statistical and applied mathematics I decided to apply my skills to an area relevant to policy. On my first job I spent four years at a research and consulting firm conducting policy evaluations for federal health agencies. I now have a joint appointment at a major research university and a federal government department, and I study economic issues pertaining US health care policy.

My interests include economics, of course, but also politics and personal finance. I’m my household’s CFO, I manage the accounting side of my wife’s small business, and I look after my two daughters. As I pursue my interests and meet my home and work responsibilities I encounter economics and finance problems that don’t always seem to have ready-made solutions. As I tackle these problems for myself I share them with readers of this blog. Hopefully what I find interesting and useful is of value to others.

I read many other blogs and listen to podcasts including those created by Nate Silver (FiveThirtyEight), Josh Marshal (Talking Points Memo), Adam Davidson (Planet Money), Brad DeLong (Grasping Reality with Both Hands), James Hamilton (Econbrowser), and Russ Roberts (EconTalk). I also post on the Bogleheads forum and wiki under a different name.

Having an economist post on your blog is cool, isn’t it? TIE and I share something in common. We both like to think about it a little more when we deal with our personal finance every day. We are also very different. TIE is an economist. I’m not. I work in the corporate world. TIE works in the university and government environment. I’m not good with language. TIE writes very well. I am confident you will find his perspectives thoughtful and interesting.

Please extend your warmest welcome to TIE by commenting to this post. With your encouragement, TIE may post here more often.

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Posted on March 16, 2009 under News.

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Comments

5 Comments on The Finance Buff Meets The Incidental Economist

  1. enonymous on March 16, 2009
     

    welcome TIE

    as for you TFB – you write rather well actually

    looking forward to the new voice!

  2. Pelon on March 16, 2009
     

    Welcome to the blog. As a fan of economics, I’m looking forward to your insights. I also appreciate your links to the podcasts. I recently became a big fan of Russ Roberts’ EconTalk, but I’m quickly running out episodes I haven’t heard. I hope the others are half as good.

  3. Matt on March 16, 2009
     

    TIE,

    Looking forward to your posts and hoping you might try to put some estimates to the value of good health.

    Matt

  4. daddy dub on March 17, 2009
     

    Looking forward to learning from two maestros

  5. mudfud on March 24, 2009
     

    Great to have TIE on board. Which username do you use in the Bogleheads forum?

    Welcome!
    Mud

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