Mark Zandi Chief Economist Moody's

Mark M. Zandi is chief economist of Moody’s, where he directs economic research. Moody’s Analytics, a subsidiary of Moody’s Corp., is a leading provider of economic research, data and analytical tools. Dr. Zandi is a co founder of the company Economy.com, which Moody’s purchased in 2005.

Dr. Zandi’s broad research interests encompass macroeconomics, financial market sand public policy. His recent research has focused on mortgage finance reform and the determinants of mortgage foreclosure and personal bankruptcy. He has analyzed the economic impact of various tax and government spending policies and assessed the appropriate monetary policy response to bubbles in asset markets.

A trusted adviser to policymakers and an influential source of economic analysis for businesses, journalists and the public, Dr. Zandi frequently testifies before Congress on topics including the economic outlook, the nation’s daunting fiscal challenges, the merits of fiscal stimulus, financial regulatory reform, and foreclosure mitigation.

Dr. Zandi conducts regular briefings on the economy for corporate boards, trade associations and policymakers at all levels. He is on the board of directors of MGIC, the nation’s largest private mortgage insurance company, and The Reinvestment Fund, a large CDFI that makes investments in disadvantaged neighborhoods. He is often quoted in national and global publications and interviewed by major news media outlets, and is a frequent guest on CNBC, NPR, Meet the Press, CNN, and various other national networks and news programs.

Dr. Zandi is the author of Paying the Price: Ending the Great Recession and Beginning a New American Century, which provides an assessment of the monetary and fiscal policy response to the Great Recession. His other book, Financial Shock: A 360º Look at the Subprime Mortgage Implosion, and How to Avoid the Next Financial Crisis, is described by the New York Times as the “clearest guide” to the financial crisis.

Dr. Zandi earned his B.S. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania. He lives with his wife and three children in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

Adam Kamins Senior Regional Economist Moody's Analytics

Adam Kamins is a director at Moody’s Analytics. He manages the firm’s U.S. subnational forecasting process and covers a wide variety of topics related to regional economics while frequently writing and presenting about both the New York and broader Northeast economies. Adam is also responsible for state and metro area scenarios, analyzing and forecasting commercial real estate prices and activity, and quantifying the impact of external events such as natural disasters. Prior to joining Moody’s Analytics, Adam was a research manager at the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, where he analyzed urban economies. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a bachelor's degree in quantitative economics from Tufts University.

Laura Ratz Senior Economist Moody's Analytics

Laura Ratz is an assistant director and economist at Moody’s Analytics. She covers California and other regional economies. She also works on the U.S. subnational forecasts and alternative scenarios. Laura has a master’s degree in economics from the University of Delaware and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Washington College.

Cris deRitis Deputy Chief Economist Moody's

Cristian deRitis, Deputy Chief Economist at Moody’s Analytics, specializes in assessing the economy’s impact on household finance, housing, credit markets and public policy. Named on two U.S. patents for credit modeling, he created loss forecasting and stress testing systems for financial institutions. He joined Moody’s in 2008, after serving as a director with Fannie Mae. He also was an adjunct professor of economics at Johns Hopkins University.

Dante DeAntonio Senior Economist Moody's Analytics

Dante DeAntonio is a senior director at Moody’s Analytics. He manages and regularly contributes to Economic View. Dante specializes in U.S. macroeconomics, with a focus on the labor market and regional economics. Dante regularly presents to clients and conferences, and has been featured in a number of media outlets. Before joining Moody’s Analytics, he worked as an economist in the Current Employment Statistics program at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Dante is also an adjunct professor in the Economics and Finance Department at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Previously, he was an adjunct in the Economics Department at Lehigh University. He holds a master’s degree and PhD in economics from Lehigh University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Pennsylvania State University.

Cris deRitis Deputy Chief Economist Moody's

Cristian deRitis, Deputy Chief Economist at Moody’s Analytics, specializes in assessing the economy’s impact on household finance, housing, credit markets and public policy. Named on two U.S. patents for credit modeling, he created loss forecasting and stress testing systems for financial institutions. He joined Moody’s in 2008, after serving as a director with Fannie Mae. He also was an adjunct professor of economics at Johns Hopkins University.

Matthew Walsh Assistant Director, Economist Moody's Analytics

Matthew Walsh is an associate economist at Moody’s Analytics. He covers the economies of Tennessee, Alaska and several U.S. metropolitan areas, as well as Bulgaria and Slovakia. He is also involved in various labor economic consulting projects and has modeled and forecasted housing and demographic dynamics at a block-group level.

Matthew’s most recent research focused on modeling saving rates by demographic cohort. Using data from the Federal Reserve, he creased estimates of saving for different segments of the population, including by income percentile, educational attainment, age cohort, and homeownership status. Matthew has also done research on the economic impact of increased foreign direct investment in Southeast Asian economies from China’s Belt and Road initiative.

He has a bachelor’s degree in mathematical economics from Temple University.

Shannon Brobst Associate Economist Moody's Analytics

Shannon Brobst is in the research division at Moody’s Analytics. She conducts research and generates analysis related to the U.S. housing and commercial real estate markets. She manages the Moody’s Analytics Commercial Real Estate Price Indexes and oversees the forecasts. She analyzes regional economies throughout the country. Shannon has a master’s degree in applied economics from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in economics and public policy from Gettysburg College.

Rebecca Rockey Deputy Chief Economist, Global Head of Forecasting Cushman & Wakefield

Rebecca Rockey is the Deputy Chief Economist and Global Head of Forecasting at Cushman & Wakefield. In her decade at the firm, her responsibilities have evolved significantly. Her focus spans economics, demographics, financial markets and commercial real estate—both at the macro and micro levels. She manages the production of national and metro-level commercial real estate forecasts across the Americas, develops predictive econometric and statistical models to enhance the firms’ analytical capabilities and contributes to numerous white papers, webinars, media requests and industry/client presentations. In her global role, she extends this expertise to other regions. She is a strategic internal and external advisor across service lines and regions, connecting research themes to actionable and tactical views on the market.

She is certified by the International Institute of Forecasters and is a member of the American Economic Association, the National Association of Business Economics (NABE) and the National Economists Club. In 2014, she was part of the forecast team that won the NABE’s Outlook Award (most accurate forecaster). In 2023, she became Co-Chair of NABE’s Commercial Real Estate Roundtable.

She previously worked as a consultant at a consulting firm engineering models to forecast agency subsidy costs and loss reserves for Fannie Mae’s single-family private-label MBS portfolio. Prior to that, she was a junior analyst at the Congressional Budget Office in the Financial Analysis Division (FAD). There, she contributed to numerous analyses related to federal credit programs, accounting treatments of federal credit, and the treatment of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the federal budget. She was particularly focused on fair value estimation of federal direct lending and guarantee credit programs and contributed to FAD’s first comprehensive estimate—across more than 100 credit programs with a portfolio value of $3.1 trillion—for the Congress.

She is frequently cited in the media and is an advisor to the NYC Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the New York State Budget Division, and the DC Policy Center. She is also a participant in the Beige Book for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Steve Cochrane Chief APAC Economist Moody's Analytics

Steven G. Cochrane, PhD, is Chief APAC Economist with Moody’s Analytics. He leads the Asia economic analysis and forecasting activities of the Moody’s Analytics research team, as well as the continual expansion of the company’s international, national and subnational forecast models. In addition, Steve directs consulting projects for clients to help them understand the effect of regional economic developments on their business under baseline forecasts and alternative scenarios. Steve’s expertise lies in providing clear insights into an area’s or region’s strengths, weaknesses and comparative advantages, relative to macro or global economic trends. 

A highly-regarded speaker, Dr. Cochrane has provided economic insights at hundreds of engagements over the past 20 years and has been featured on CNBC, CNA, Bloomberg TV, Wall Street Radio, and the PBS News Hour. Through his research and presentations, Steve dissects how various components of the macro and regional economies shape patterns of growth. His extensive expertise on U.S. and global economic issues makes also him a popular speaker at client conferences and executive briefings.

Steve holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and is a Penn Institute for Urban Research Scholar. He also holds a master's degree from the University of Colorado at Denver and a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Davis.

Eric Gaus Senior Economist Moody's Analytics

Eric Gaus is an assistant director and economist with Moody’s Analytics in West Chester, with responsibilities for development and improvement of country forecast and risk models. Eric is also responsible for the Netherlands’ economic forecast. Previously, he taught macroeconomics at Ursinus College and Haverford College. He has published several academic articles on macroeconomic expectations. Eric received his PhD in economics from the University of Oregon, and a BA and MA from Boston University.

Brendan La Cerda Director - Economic Research Moody's Analytics

Brendan LaCerda is an associate director and senior economist with Moody’s Analytics. Brendan serves as the lead analyst for the Canadian economic forecast. His primary responsibilities also include the development and improvement of country forecast models. His research is primarily focused on international macroeconomics, healthcare and fiscal policy. Before joining Moody’s Analytics, Brendan worked as a senior economist with IHS Global Insight’s U.S. Macroeconomic Service. Brendan received his PhD in economics from the University of Virginia. He pursued his undergraduate education at the London School of Economics and the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with a BA in economics and mathematics.

Justin Begley Economist Moody's Analytics

Justin Begley is a U.S.-based economist at Moody’s Analytics. He covers the economies of Minnesota, Alabama, Wyoming, and several U.S. metro areas. His research focuses on U.S. fiscal policy, geopolitical risk, and the U.S. labor market. He also works on developing models to forecast high-frequency data of the U.S. economy and is a regular contributor to Economic View. Prior to joining Moody’s Analytics, Justin held fellowships at Florida State University and in political economy at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Justin holds a master’s of science in economics from Florida State University and a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from Canisius College.

Mark Zandi Chief Economist Moody's

Mark M. Zandi is chief economist of Moody’s, where he directs economic research. Moody’s Analytics, a subsidiary of Moody’s Corp., is a leading provider of economic research, data and analytical tools. Dr. Zandi is a co founder of the company Economy.com, which Moody’s purchased in 2005.

Dr. Zandi’s broad research interests encompass macroeconomics, financial market sand public policy. His recent research has focused on mortgage finance reform and the determinants of mortgage foreclosure and personal bankruptcy. He has analyzed the economic impact of various tax and government spending policies and assessed the appropriate monetary policy response to bubbles in asset markets.

A trusted adviser to policymakers and an influential source of economic analysis for businesses, journalists and the public, Dr. Zandi frequently testifies before Congress on topics including the economic outlook, the nation’s daunting fiscal challenges, the merits of fiscal stimulus, financial regulatory reform, and foreclosure mitigation.

Dr. Zandi conducts regular briefings on the economy for corporate boards, trade associations and policymakers at all levels. He is on the board of directors of MGIC, the nation’s largest private mortgage insurance company, and The Reinvestment Fund, a large CDFI that makes investments in disadvantaged neighborhoods. He is often quoted in national and global publications and interviewed by major news media outlets, and is a frequent guest on CNBC, NPR, Meet the Press, CNN, and various other national networks and news programs.

Dr. Zandi is the author of Paying the Price: Ending the Great Recession and Beginning a New American Century, which provides an assessment of the monetary and fiscal policy response to the Great Recession. His other book, Financial Shock: A 360º Look at the Subprime Mortgage Implosion, and How to Avoid the Next Financial Crisis, is described by the New York Times as the “clearest guide” to the financial crisis.

Dr. Zandi earned his B.S. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania. He lives with his wife and three children in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

Wendy Edelberg Senior Fellow Brookings Institution

Wendy Edelberg is the director of The Hamilton Project and a senior fellow in Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution. Edelberg joined Brookings in 2020, after more than fifteen years in the public sector. She is also a Principal at WestExec Advisors. Most recently, she was Chief Economist at the Congressional Budget Office. Prior to working at CBO, Edelberg was the executive director of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, which released its report on the causes of the financial crisis in January 2011. Previously, she worked on issues related to macroeconomics, housing, and consumer spending at the President’s Council of Economic Advisers during two administrations. Before that, she worked on those same issues at the Federal Reserve Board. In 2022, Edelberg was appointed as a co-chair of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Climate and Macroeconomics Roundtable.

Edelberg is a macroeconomist whose research has spanned a wide range of topics, from household spending and saving decisions, to the economic effects of fiscal policy, to systemic risks in the financial system. In addition, at CBO and the Federal Reserve Board, she worked on forecasting the macroeconomy. Edelberg received a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago, an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. from Columbia University.

Mark Zandi Chief Economist Moody's

Mark M. Zandi is chief economist of Moody’s, where he directs economic research. Moody’s Analytics, a subsidiary of Moody’s Corp., is a leading provider of economic research, data and analytical tools. Dr. Zandi is a co founder of the company Economy.com, which Moody’s purchased in 2005.

Dr. Zandi’s broad research interests encompass macroeconomics, financial market sand public policy. His recent research has focused on mortgage finance reform and the determinants of mortgage foreclosure and personal bankruptcy. He has analyzed the economic impact of various tax and government spending policies and assessed the appropriate monetary policy response to bubbles in asset markets.

A trusted adviser to policymakers and an influential source of economic analysis for businesses, journalists and the public, Dr. Zandi frequently testifies before Congress on topics including the economic outlook, the nation’s daunting fiscal challenges, the merits of fiscal stimulus, financial regulatory reform, and foreclosure mitigation.

Dr. Zandi conducts regular briefings on the economy for corporate boards, trade associations and policymakers at all levels. He is on the board of directors of MGIC, the nation’s largest private mortgage insurance company, and The Reinvestment Fund, a large CDFI that makes investments in disadvantaged neighborhoods. He is often quoted in national and global publications and interviewed by major news media outlets, and is a frequent guest on CNBC, NPR, Meet the Press, CNN, and various other national networks and news programs.

Dr. Zandi is the author of Paying the Price: Ending the Great Recession and Beginning a New American Century, which provides an assessment of the monetary and fiscal policy response to the Great Recession. His other book, Financial Shock: A 360º Look at the Subprime Mortgage Implosion, and How to Avoid the Next Financial Crisis, is described by the New York Times as the “clearest guide” to the financial crisis.

Dr. Zandi earned his B.S. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania. He lives with his wife and three children in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

Cris deRitis Deputy Chief Economist Moody's Analytics

Cristian deRitis is a senior director at Moody’s Analytics, where he conducts economic analysis and develops econometric models for a wide variety of clients. His regular analysis and commentary on consumer credit, policy and the broader economy appear on the firm’s Economy.com web site and in other publications. He is regularly quoted in publications such as the Wall Street Journal for his views on the economy and consumer credit markets. Currently he is spearheading efforts to develop alternative sources of data to measure economic activity more accurately than traditional sources of data. Before joining Moody’s Analytics, Cristian worked for Fannie Mae and taught at Johns Hopkins University. He received his PhD in economics from Johns Hopkins University and is named on two U.S. patents for credit modeling techniques.

Brendan La Cerda Director - Economic Research Moody's Analytics

Brendan LaCerda is an associate director and senior economist with Moody’s Analytics. Brendan serves as the lead analyst for the Canadian economic forecast. His primary responsibilities also include the development and improvement of country forecast models. His research is primarily focused on international macroeconomics, healthcare and fiscal policy. Before joining Moody’s Analytics, Brendan worked as a senior economist with IHS Global Insight’s U.S. Macroeconomic Service. Brendan received his PhD in economics from the University of Virginia. He pursued his undergraduate education at the London School of Economics and the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with a BA in economics and mathematics.

Steve Cochrane Chief APAC Economist Moody's Analytics

Steven G. Cochrane, PhD, is Chief APAC Economist with Moody’s Analytics. He leads the Asia economic analysis and forecasting activities of the Moody’s Analytics research team, as well as the continual expansion of the company’s international, national and subnational forecast models. In addition, Steve directs consulting projects for clients to help them understand the effect of regional economic developments on their business under baseline forecasts and alternative scenarios. Steve’s expertise lies in providing clear insights into an area’s or region’s strengths, weaknesses and comparative advantages, relative to macro or global economic trends. 

A highly-regarded speaker, Dr. Cochrane has provided economic insights at hundreds of engagements over the past 20 years and has been featured on CNBC, CNA, Bloomberg TV, Wall Street Radio, and the PBS News Hour. Through his research and presentations, Steve dissects how various components of the macro and regional economies shape patterns of growth. His extensive expertise on U.S. and global economic issues makes also him a popular speaker at client conferences and executive briefings.

Steve holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and is a Penn Institute for Urban Research Scholar. He also holds a master's degree from the University of Colorado at Denver and a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Davis.

Dante DeAntonio Senior Economist Moody's Analytics

Dante DeAntonio is a senior director at Moody’s Analytics. He manages and regularly contributes to Economic View. Dante specializes in U.S. macroeconomics, with a focus on the labor market and regional economics. Dante regularly presents to clients and conferences, and has been featured in a number of media outlets. Before joining Moody’s Analytics, he worked as an economist in the Current Employment Statistics program at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Dante is also an adjunct professor in the Economics and Finance Department at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Previously, he was an adjunct in the Economics Department at Lehigh University. He holds a master’s degree and PhD in economics from Lehigh University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Pennsylvania State University.

Adam Kamins Senior Regional Economist Moody's Analytics

Adam Kamins is a director at Moody’s Analytics. He manages the firm’s U.S. subnational forecasting process and covers a wide variety of topics related to regional economics while frequently writing and presenting about both the New York and broader Northeast economies. Adam is also responsible for state and metro area scenarios, analyzing and forecasting commercial real estate prices and activity, and quantifying the impact of external events such as natural disasters. Prior to joining Moody’s Analytics, Adam was a research manager at the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, where he analyzed urban economies. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a bachelor's degree in quantitative economics from Tufts University.

Eric Gaus Senior Economist Moody's Analytics

Eric Gaus is an assistant director and economist with Moody’s Analytics in West Chester, with responsibilities for development and improvement of country forecast and risk models. Eric is also responsible for the Netherlands’ economic forecast. Previously, he taught macroeconomics at Ursinus College and Haverford College. He has published several academic articles on macroeconomic expectations. Eric received his PhD in economics from the University of Oregon, and a BA and MA from Boston University.

Matthew Walsh Assistant Director, Economist Moody's Analytics

Matthew Walsh is an associate economist at Moody’s Analytics. He covers the economies of Tennessee, Alaska and several U.S. metropolitan areas, as well as Bulgaria and Slovakia. He is also involved in various labor economic consulting projects and has modeled and forecasted housing and demographic dynamics at a block-group level.

Matthew’s most recent research focused on modeling saving rates by demographic cohort. Using data from the Federal Reserve, he creased estimates of saving for different segments of the population, including by income percentile, educational attainment, age cohort, and homeownership status. Matthew has also done research on the economic impact of increased foreign direct investment in Southeast Asian economies from China’s Belt and Road initiative.

He has a bachelor’s degree in mathematical economics from Temple University.

Justin Begley Economist Moody's Analytics

Justin Begley is a U.S.-based economist at Moody’s Analytics. He covers the economies of Minnesota, Alabama, Wyoming, and several U.S. metro areas. His research focuses on U.S. fiscal policy, geopolitical risk, and the U.S. labor market. He also works on developing models to forecast high-frequency data of the U.S. economy and is a regular contributor to Economic View. Prior to joining Moody’s Analytics, Justin held fellowships at Florida State University and in political economy at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Justin holds a master’s of science in economics from Florida State University and a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from Canisius College.

Laura Ratz Senior Economist Moody's Analytics

Laura Ratz is an assistant director and economist at Moody’s Analytics. She covers California and other regional economies. She also works on the U.S. subnational forecasts and alternative scenarios. Laura has a master’s degree in economics from the University of Delaware and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Washington College.

Wendy Edelberg Senior Fellow Brookings Institution

Wendy Edelberg is the director of The Hamilton Project and a senior fellow in Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution. Edelberg joined Brookings in 2020, after more than fifteen years in the public sector. She is also a Principal at WestExec Advisors. Most recently, she was Chief Economist at the Congressional Budget Office. Prior to working at CBO, Edelberg was the executive director of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, which released its report on the causes of the financial crisis in January 2011. Previously, she worked on issues related to macroeconomics, housing, and consumer spending at the President’s Council of Economic Advisers during two administrations. Before that, she worked on those same issues at the Federal Reserve Board. In 2022, Edelberg was appointed as a co-chair of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Climate and Macroeconomics Roundtable.

Edelberg is a macroeconomist whose research has spanned a wide range of topics, from household spending and saving decisions, to the economic effects of fiscal policy, to systemic risks in the financial system. In addition, at CBO and the Federal Reserve Board, she worked on forecasting the macroeconomy. Edelberg received a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago, an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. from Columbia University.

Rebecca Rockey Deputy Chief Economist, Global Head of Forecasting Cushman & Wakefield

Rebecca Rockey is the Deputy Chief Economist and Global Head of Forecasting at Cushman & Wakefield. In her decade at the firm, her responsibilities have evolved significantly. Her focus spans economics, demographics, financial markets and commercial real estate—both at the macro and micro levels. She manages the production of national and metro-level commercial real estate forecasts across the Americas, develops predictive econometric and statistical models to enhance the firms’ analytical capabilities and contributes to numerous white papers, webinars, media requests and industry/client presentations. In her global role, she extends this expertise to other regions. She is a strategic internal and external advisor across service lines and regions, connecting research themes to actionable and tactical views on the market.

She is certified by the International Institute of Forecasters and is a member of the American Economic Association, the National Association of Business Economics (NABE) and the National Economists Club. In 2014, she was part of the forecast team that won the NABE’s Outlook Award (most accurate forecaster). In 2023, she became Co-Chair of NABE’s Commercial Real Estate Roundtable.

She previously worked as a consultant at a consulting firm engineering models to forecast agency subsidy costs and loss reserves for Fannie Mae’s single-family private-label MBS portfolio. Prior to that, she was a junior analyst at the Congressional Budget Office in the Financial Analysis Division (FAD). There, she contributed to numerous analyses related to federal credit programs, accounting treatments of federal credit, and the treatment of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the federal budget. She was particularly focused on fair value estimation of federal direct lending and guarantee credit programs and contributed to FAD’s first comprehensive estimate—across more than 100 credit programs with a portfolio value of $3.1 trillion—for the Congress.

She is frequently cited in the media and is an advisor to the NYC Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the New York State Budget Division, and the DC Policy Center. She is also a participant in the Beige Book for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.