Angus Maddison
Encyclopedia
Angus Maddison was a British economist and a world scholar on quantitative macroeconomic history, including the measurement and analysis of economic growth and development. He was Emeritus Professor at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Groningen
(RUG).
as an undergraduate. After attending McGill University
and Johns Hopkins University
as a graduate student, he decided not to pursue a Ph.D. and returned to the United Kingdom
to teach for a year at the University of St. Andrews. He subsequently got his doctorate.
In 1953, Maddison joined the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC), and afterwards became Head of the OEEC Economics Division. In 1963, when the OEEC became the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
, Maddison became Assistant Director of the Economic Development Department. In 1966-71 he took leave of absence and spent the next 15 years in a series of consulting appointments during which he returned to the OECD for four years.
Centre for International Affairs. Maddison also held the position of policy advisor for various institutions, including the governments of Ghana
and Pakistan
. In addition, he visited many other countries and often directly advised the government leaders of countries such as Brazil, Guinea, Mongolia, the USSR and Japan. This enabled him to gain a unique insight into the factors that determine economic growth and prosperity.
In 1978 Maddison was appointed historical Professor at the University of Groningen
. Maddison was a pioneer in the field of the construction of national accounts, where a country’s accounts are calculated back in periods of several decades all the way to the year 1
. To this end he combined modern research techniques with his own extensive knowledge of economic history
and in particular countries’ performances in the field of GDP per capita. His work resulted in a deep new understanding of the reasons why some countries have become rich whereas others have remained poor (or have succumbed to poverty). In this vital field, Maddison is regarded as the world’s most prominent scholar.
In the past two decades, Maddison mainly focussed on the construction of data and analysis further back in time. He had, for example, published an authoritative study on economic growth in China over the past twenty centuries. This study has strongly boosted the historical debate about the strengths and weaknesses of Europe and China as two of the world’s leading economic forces. His estimates regarding the per capita income in the Roman Empire
followed up the pioneering work of Keith Hopkins
and Raymond W. Goldsmith
. He was also author of many important works of historical economic analysis, including The World Economy: Historical Statistics
and several other reference books on the same topic.
(France), but had strong connections with the RUG. He was the joint founder and intellectual leader of the Groningen Growth and Development Centre, a research group within the Faculty of Economics that focuses on long-term economic growth. The databases maintained by Maddison and his former colleagues, which now include virtually every country in the world, form one of the most important sources for the analysis of long-term economic growth and are used throughout the world by academics and policy analysts.
Maddison received a royal decoration as Commander in the Netherlands Order of Orange Nassau as he turned 80, and in October 2007 Maddison received an honorary doctorate at Hitotsubashi University
, Japan.
Maddison died on Saturday, April 24, 2010, at the American Hospital of Paris
in Neuilly-sur-Seine
, France.
University of Groningen
The University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...
(RUG).
Early life and OECC
Born in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, Maddison was schooled at Darlington Grammar School and attended the University of CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
as an undergraduate. After attending McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
and Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
as a graduate student, he decided not to pursue a Ph.D. and returned to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to teach for a year at the University of St. Andrews. He subsequently got his doctorate.
In 1953, Maddison joined the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC), and afterwards became Head of the OEEC Economics Division. In 1963, when the OEEC became the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an international economic organisation of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade...
, Maddison became Assistant Director of the Economic Development Department. In 1966-71 he took leave of absence and spent the next 15 years in a series of consulting appointments during which he returned to the OECD for four years.
Policy adviser and professorship
In 1969-1971 Maddison worked at the Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
Centre for International Affairs. Maddison also held the position of policy advisor for various institutions, including the governments of Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. In addition, he visited many other countries and often directly advised the government leaders of countries such as Brazil, Guinea, Mongolia, the USSR and Japan. This enabled him to gain a unique insight into the factors that determine economic growth and prosperity.
In 1978 Maddison was appointed historical Professor at the University of Groningen
University of Groningen
The University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...
. Maddison was a pioneer in the field of the construction of national accounts, where a country’s accounts are calculated back in periods of several decades all the way to the year 1
1
Year 1 was a common year starting on Saturday or Sunday of the Julian calendar and a common year starting on Saturday of the Proleptic Julian calendar...
. To this end he combined modern research techniques with his own extensive knowledge of economic history
Economic history
Economic history is the study of economies or economic phenomena in the past. Analysis in economic history is undertaken using a combination of historical methods, statistical methods and by applying economic theory to historical situations and institutions...
and in particular countries’ performances in the field of GDP per capita. His work resulted in a deep new understanding of the reasons why some countries have become rich whereas others have remained poor (or have succumbed to poverty). In this vital field, Maddison is regarded as the world’s most prominent scholar.
In the past two decades, Maddison mainly focussed on the construction of data and analysis further back in time. He had, for example, published an authoritative study on economic growth in China over the past twenty centuries. This study has strongly boosted the historical debate about the strengths and weaknesses of Europe and China as two of the world’s leading economic forces. His estimates regarding the per capita income in the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
followed up the pioneering work of Keith Hopkins
Keith Hopkins
Morris Keith Hopkins was a British historian and sociologist. He was professor of ancient history at the University of Cambridge from 1985 to 2000....
and Raymond W. Goldsmith
Raymond W. Goldsmith
Raymond W. Goldsmith was an American economist specialising in historical data on national income, saving, financial intermediation, and financial assets and liabilities....
. He was also author of many important works of historical economic analysis, including The World Economy: Historical Statistics
The World Economy: Historical Statistics
The World Economy: Historical Statistics is a book by Angus Maddison. Published in 2004 by the OECD Development Centre, it studies the growth of populations and economies across the centuries: not just the World Economy as it is now, but how it was in the past.Among other things, it showed that...
and several other reference books on the same topic.
Awards and death
Until the end of his life, Maddison lived in ThourotteThourotte
Thourotte is a small village in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise....
(France), but had strong connections with the RUG. He was the joint founder and intellectual leader of the Groningen Growth and Development Centre, a research group within the Faculty of Economics that focuses on long-term economic growth. The databases maintained by Maddison and his former colleagues, which now include virtually every country in the world, form one of the most important sources for the analysis of long-term economic growth and are used throughout the world by academics and policy analysts.
Maddison received a royal decoration as Commander in the Netherlands Order of Orange Nassau as he turned 80, and in October 2007 Maddison received an honorary doctorate at Hitotsubashi University
Hitotsubashi University
is a national university specialised in the social sciences in Tokyo, Japan. The University has campuses in Kunitachi, Kodaira, and Kanda.Hitotsubashi is considered as one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. It is ranked 25th in the world in 2011 by École des Mines de Paris.Hitotsubashi...
, Japan.
Maddison died on Saturday, April 24, 2010, at the American Hospital of Paris
American Hospital of Paris
The American Hospital of Paris, founded in 1906, located in Neuilly-sur-Seine, is a private, not-for-profit institution that is considered agréé/non-conventionné under the French system of healthcare. It has 187 surgical, medical, and obstetric beds....
in Neuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Although Neuilly is technically a suburb of Paris, it is immediately adjacent to the city and directly extends it. The area is composed of mostly wealthy, select residential...
, France.
See also
- Paul BairochPaul BairochBorn of Jewish parents who emigrated from Poland, Paul Bairoch was one of the great post-war economic historians who specialized in global economic history, urban history and historical demography...
- List of regions by past GDP (PPP) per capita
- List of regions by past GDP (PPP)