Eric Ghysels
Overview
Eric Ghysels is an economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...

 with particular interest in finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...

 and time series econometrics
Econometrics
Econometrics has been defined as "the application of mathematics and statistical methods to economic data" and described as the branch of economics "that aims to give empirical content to economic relations." More precisely, it is "the quantitative analysis of actual economic phenomena based on...

 who works in the field of financial econometrics
Financial econometrics
People working in the finance industry often use econometric techniques in a range of activities. For example in support of portfolio management, risk management and in the analysis of securities...

 and is currently the Edward M. Bernstein Distinguished Professor of Economics at the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...

 and a Professor of Finance at the Kenan-Flagler Business School
Kenan-Flagler Business School
The Kenan-Flagler Business School is the undergraduate and graduate business school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Master of Business Administration , MBA for Executives, Master of Accounting, Ph.D., a business...

 .
Ghysels was born in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...

, Belgium, as the son of Pierre Ghysels (a civil servant) and Anna Janssens (a homemaker). He completed his undergraduate studies in economics (Supra Cum Laude) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is a Flemish university located in Brussels, Belgium. It has two campuses referred to as Etterbeek and Jette.The university's name is sometimes abbreviated by "VUB" or translated to "Free University of Brussels"...

 in 1979.
Quotations

First there was darkness. Then came the Strangers.

You are probably wondering why I keep appearing in your memories, John. It is because I have inserted myself into them.

The only place home exists is in your head.

[While being hung upside-down by Mr. Book] Maybe you have finally found what you are looking for and it's going to bite you on your--

This one is still warm. What is it? The recollections of a great lover? A cataloge of conquests? We will soon find out. [A Stranger gives him two vials] You wouldn't appreciate that, would you, Mr. Whatever-your-name-is?

I know this is gonna sound crazy, but what if we never knew each other before now? What if the first time we ever met was last night in our apartment. And everything you remember, and everything I’m supposed to remember never really happened. Someone just wants us to think it did.

[to John Murdoch] I have become the monster you were intended to be.

Instincts are irrational, Mr. Wall. We must follow where they lead, yes?

There used to be a ferry when I was a boy, biggest thing you ever saw, lit up like a floating birthday cake.

It seems you have discovered your unpleasant nature.

 
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