The building society's chief economist, Robert Gardner, said this stability reflected the "uncertain" state of the economy.

BBC: House prices are stabilising, says Nationwide

Nationwide chief economist Robert Gardner said that there were some signs that conditions were improving for first-time buyers, but this depended on a bigger economic picture.

BBC: First-time buyer shortage a concern, says Nationwide

"Robert Gardner took it out of that super-dry realm and put it in a more poetic form, " said Mr. Mayet, who also took inspiration from filmmakers like Werner Herzog and Jean Rouch.

WSJ: Repertory Film: External Influences

In addition, and without implying they would necessarily agree with the views expressed here, the author would like to thank: Lajos Bokros, Robert Braun, Martin Bruncko, Robert Cooper, Pavol Demes, Jeremy Druker, Michel Foucher, Andrew Gardner, Heather Grabbe, Charles Grant, Istvan Gyarmati, David Kral, Mart Laar, Edward Lucas, Alina Mungiu-Pippidi, Jiri Pehe, Sandra Pralong, Olli Rehn, Gyorgy Schopflin, James Sherr, Pirkka Tapiola, Emma Udwin and Alexander Vondra.

ECONOMIST: Sources and acknowledgments