Anthony Thirlwall
Encyclopedia
Tony Thirlwall is Professor of Applied Economics at the University of Kent
. He has made major contributions to regional economics; the analysis of unemployment and inflation; balance of payments theory, and to growth and development economics with particular reference to developing countries. He is the author of the best selling text book Economics of Development: Theory and Evidence (Palgrave Macmillan) now in its ninth edition. He is also the biographer and literary executor of the famous Cambridge economist Nicholas Kaldor
. Perhaps his most notable contribution has been to show that if long-run balance of payments equilibrium is a requirement for a country, its growth of national income can be approximated by the ratio of the growth of exports to the income elasticity of demand for imports (Thirlwall's Law
).
1976-79. He then attended University of Leeds
(1959–62); Clark University
(USA)(1962–63), and Cambridge University (1963–64).
and was appointed as Professor of Applied Economics in 1976. During his time at Kent he has held several advisory and visiting positions: the Ministry of Overseas Development (1966); the Department of Employment and Productivity (1968–70); West Virginia University
(1967); Princeton University
(1971–72); University of Papua New Guinea
(1974); Cambridge University (1979, 1986); Melbourne University (1981, 1988), and La Trobe University
(1994).He has been guest lecturer at the Technical University of Lisbon
(1984); National Autonomous University of Mexico
(2000); and Mexico's National Polytechnic Institute
(2008).
Between 1971 and 1991 he organized eleven biennial Keynes Seminars at Keynes College, University of Kent, to commemorate the life and work of John Maynard Keynes
. In the 1980s he served on the Council and Executive Committee of the Royal Economic Society
and edited the conference volumes of the Confederation of European Economic Associations. In the 1990s he was active in the campaign against Britain joining the Euro, being a Trustee of the New Europe Research Trust and a Council Member of Business for Sterling. He is now General Editor of The Great Thinkers in Economics Series published by Palgrave Macmillan
.
(1993–94), Tongan Development Bank (1996), the Asian Development Bank
(2003), and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD) (2004–06).
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
. He has made major contributions to regional economics; the analysis of unemployment and inflation; balance of payments theory, and to growth and development economics with particular reference to developing countries. He is the author of the best selling text book Economics of Development: Theory and Evidence (Palgrave Macmillan) now in its ninth edition. He is also the biographer and literary executor of the famous Cambridge economist Nicholas Kaldor
Nicholas Kaldor
Nicholas Kaldor, Baron Kaldor was one of the foremost Cambridge economists in the post-war period...
. Perhaps his most notable contribution has been to show that if long-run balance of payments equilibrium is a requirement for a country, its growth of national income can be approximated by the ratio of the growth of exports to the income elasticity of demand for imports (Thirlwall's Law
Thirlwall's Law
Thirlwall's law states that if long run balance of payments equilibrium on current account is a requirement, and the real exchange rate stays relatively constant, then the long run growth of a country can be approximated by the ratio of the growth of exports to the income elasticity of demand for...
).
Education
Thirlwall was educated at the Harrow Weald County Grammar School (1952–59) where he was first taught economics by Merlyn Rees who later became Home Secretary in the Government of James CallaghanJames Callaghan
Leonard James Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC , was a British Labour politician, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1976 to 1980...
1976-79. He then attended University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
(1959–62); Clark University
Clark University
Clark University is a private research university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts.Founded in 1887, it is the oldest educational institution founded as an all-graduate university. Clark now also educates undergraduates...
(USA)(1962–63), and Cambridge University (1963–64).
Career
Thirlwall started his teaching career as a teaching assistant at Clark University (USA) in 1962 and then as an economics tutor at Cambridge University 1963-64. He then went to the University of Leeds as an assistant lecturer from 1964 to 1966. In 1966 he joined the new University of KentUniversity of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
and was appointed as Professor of Applied Economics in 1976. During his time at Kent he has held several advisory and visiting positions: the Ministry of Overseas Development (1966); the Department of Employment and Productivity (1968–70); West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
(1967); Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
(1971–72); University of Papua New Guinea
University of Papua New Guinea
The University of Papua New Guinea was established by ordinance of the Australian administration in 1965. This followed the Currie Commission which had enquired into higher education in Papua New Guinea...
(1974); Cambridge University (1979, 1986); Melbourne University (1981, 1988), and La Trobe University
La Trobe University
La Trobe University is a multi-campus university in Victoria, Australia. It was established in 1964 by an Act of Parliament to become the third oldest university in the state of Victoria. The main campus of La Trobe is located in the Melbourne suburb of Bundoora; two other major campuses are...
(1994).He has been guest lecturer at the Technical University of Lisbon
Technical University of Lisbon
The Technical University of Lisbon is a Portuguese public university. It was created in 1930 in Lisbon, as a confederation of older schools, and comprises, nowadays, the faculties and institutes of veterinary medicine; agricultural sciences; economics and business administration; engineering,...
(1984); National Autonomous University of Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
(2000); and Mexico's National Polytechnic Institute
National Polytechnic Institute
The National Polytechnic Institute colloquially known as the Polytechnic is one of the largest public universities in Mexico with 153.027 students at the high school, undergraduate and postgraduate levels...
(2008).
Between 1971 and 1991 he organized eleven biennial Keynes Seminars at Keynes College, University of Kent, to commemorate the life and work of John Maynard Keynes
John Maynard Keynes
John Maynard Keynes, Baron Keynes of Tilton, CB FBA , was a British economist whose ideas have profoundly affected the theory and practice of modern macroeconomics, as well as the economic policies of governments...
. In the 1980s he served on the Council and Executive Committee of the Royal Economic Society
Royal Economic Society
The Royal Economic Society is incorporated by a Royal Charter dated 2 December 1902. It is one of the oldest economic associations in the world. Currently it has over 3,300 individual members, of whom 60% live outside the United Kingdom...
and edited the conference volumes of the Confederation of European Economic Associations. In the 1990s he was active in the campaign against Britain joining the Euro, being a Trustee of the New Europe Research Trust and a Council Member of Business for Sterling. He is now General Editor of The Great Thinkers in Economics Series published by Palgrave Macmillan
Palgrave Macmillan
Palgrave Macmillan is an international academic and trade publishing company, headquartered in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom and with offices in New York, Melbourne, Sydney, Hong Kong, Delhi, Johannesburg. It was created in 2000 when St...
.
Consultancy
Pacific Islands Development Programme in Hawaii (1989–90), the African Development BankAfrican Development Bank
The African Development Bank Group is a development bank established in 1964 with the intention of promoting economic and social development in Africa...
(1993–94), Tongan Development Bank (1996), the Asian Development Bank
Asian Development Bank
The Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank established on 22 August 1966 to facilitate economic development of countries in Asia...
(2003), and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body. It is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment, and development issues....
(UNCTAD) (2004–06).
Editorial role
Served on the editorial boards of:- Journal of Development Studies (1979–2006)
- Journal of Post Keynesian Economics (1988-)
- African Development Review (1998-)
- International Journal of Human Development(2005-)
- Estudios de Economia, Portugal (1997–2002)
Key works
- Economics of Development: Theory and Evidence (Palgrave Macmillan). First edition 1972. Ninth edition 2011. (Chinese and Greek translations). ISBN 0230222293
- Inflation, Saving and Growth in Developing Economies (Macmillan, 1974; St Martin’s Press, USA, 1975). Spanish Edition, El Moderna, Mexico, 1978. ISBN 0333173104
- Regional Growth and Unemployment in the United Kingdom (with R. Dixon), (Macmillan, 1975; Holmes and Meier, USA, 1975). ISBN 0333155610
- Financing Economic Development (Macmillan 1976), ISBN 0333177924; Greek Edition, Scientific Editions Publishing Company 1977; Spanish Edition, Vicens-Vives, 1978; Turkish Edition, Ak Yayinlari, 1980.
- Balance of Payments Theory and the United Kingdom Experience (Macmillan). First Edition, 1980. Fourth Edition, 1992 (with H.D. Gibson), ISBN 0333421094
- Nicholas Kaldor (Harvester Wheatsheaf Press, 1987 and New York University Press, USA, 1987). ISBN 0745001084
- Deindustrialisation (with S. Bazen) (Heinemann). First Edition, 1989. Third Edition 1997.
- The Performance and Prospects of the Pacific Island Economies in the World Economy (University of Hawaii Press, 1991). ISBN 0866381309
- Economic Growth and the Balance of Payments Constraint (with J. McCombie), (Macmillan, 1994). ISBN 031210183X
- The Economics of Growth and Development: Selected Essays of A.P. Thirlwall Vol 1 (Edward Elgar, 1995). ISBN 1858982073
- Macroeconomic Issues from a Keynesian Perspective: Selected Essays of A.P. Thirlwall, Vol 2 (Edward Elgar, 1997). ISBN 1858986052
- The Euro and 'Regional Divergence' in Europe New Europe Research Trust, 2000. ISBN 0953636011
- The Nature of Economic Growth : An Alternative Framework for Understanding the Performance of Nations (Edward Elgar, 2002), ISBN 1843763389. Spanish Edition, Fondo de Cultura Económica, Mexico 2003; Japanese Edition, Gakubunsha Co. Ltd 2003; Portuguese Edition, IPEA, Brazil, 2005.
- Trade, the Balance of Payments and Exchange Rate Policy in Developing Countries (Edward Elgar, 2003). ISBN 1843762293
- Essays on Balance of Payments Constrained Growth (Routledge Press, 2004) (with J.McCombie). ISBN 0415326311
- Trade Liberalisation and The Poverty of Nations (Edward Elgar, 2008) (with P. Pacheco-López). ISBN 1847208223