Henry Rosovsky
Encyclopedia
Henry Rosovsky is an American economist and university administrator. From 1973 to 1984 and 1990 to 1991, he was the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University
. At Harvard, where he was a Professor of Economics, he also served as Acting President in 1984 and 1987. After stepping down from the dean’s position in 1987, he become a member of Harvard’s governing body, the Harvard Corporation.
Born in the Free City of Danzig
(Gdańsk) to Russian Jewish parents, Rosovsky grew up speaking Russian and German. At age 13, Rosovsky came to the United States with his family. In 1949, he received his A.B degree from the College of William and Mary
and his Ph.D. degree from Harvard in 1959. He also became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1949. He taught economics, history and Japanese studies at the University of California at Berkeley until 1965. He has taught as a visiting professor in Japan
and Israel
and has worked variously as a consultant with the United States government, the Asian Development Bank
, the World Bank
and UNESCO
.
In 2000, Rosovsky chaired the Task Force on Higher Education and Society with Mamphela Ramphele
. The Task Force was convened by the World Bank
and UNESCO
to explore the future of higher education in developing countries. Its report, Peril and Promise, argued that higher education systems in poor countries are in crisis and made a case for renewed investment, curricular reform and improved standards of governance
.
Rosovsky is the author of Capital Formation in Japan (1961), Quantitative Japanese Economic History (1961), Japanese Economic Growth (with K. Ohkawa, 1973) and The University: An Owner's Manual (1990). He also edited Industrialization in Two Systems (1961), Discord in the Pacific (1972), Asia's New Giant: How the Japanese Economy Works (with H. Patrick, 1976), Favorites of Fortune (with P. Higonnet and D. Landes
, 1991) and The Political Economy of Japan: Cultural and Social Dynamics (with Shumpei Kumon, 1992).
Thomas Short of Commentary
magazine praised The University as "a cozy book" where Rosovsky, with "a humorous, relentlessly self-deprecating manner," shares "many anecdotes from his own career in higher education."
Harvard 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...
. At Harvard, where he was a Professor of Economics, he also served as Acting President in 1984 and 1987. After stepping down from the dean’s position in 1987, he become a member of Harvard’s governing body, the Harvard Corporation.
Born in the Free City of Danzig
Free City of Danzig
The Free City of Danzig was a semi-autonomous city-state that existed between 1920 and 1939, consisting of the Baltic Sea port of Danzig and surrounding areas....
(Gdańsk) to Russian Jewish parents, Rosovsky grew up speaking Russian and German. At age 13, Rosovsky came to the United States with his family. In 1949, he received his A.B degree from the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
and his Ph.D. degree from Harvard in 1959. He also became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1949. He taught economics, history and Japanese studies at the University of California at Berkeley until 1965. He has taught as a visiting professor in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and has worked variously as a consultant with the United States government, 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...
, the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
and UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.
In 2000, Rosovsky chaired the Task Force on Higher Education and Society with Mamphela Ramphele
Mamphela Ramphele
Mamphela Aletta Ramphele is a South African academic, businesswoman and medical doctor and was an anti-apartheid activist. She is a current trustee on the board of the Rockefeller Foundation in New York.-Life and career:...
. The Task Force was convened by the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
and UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
to explore the future of higher education in developing countries. Its report, Peril and Promise, argued that higher education systems in poor countries are in crisis and made a case for renewed investment, curricular reform and improved standards of governance
Governance
Governance is the act of governing. It relates to decisions that define expectations, grant power, or verify performance. It consists of either a separate process or part of management or leadership processes...
.
Rosovsky is the author of Capital Formation in Japan (1961), Quantitative Japanese Economic History (1961), Japanese Economic Growth (with K. Ohkawa, 1973) and The University: An Owner's Manual (1990). He also edited Industrialization in Two Systems (1961), Discord in the Pacific (1972), Asia's New Giant: How the Japanese Economy Works (with H. Patrick, 1976), Favorites of Fortune (with P. Higonnet and D. Landes
David Landes
David S. Landes is a professor emeritus of economics at Harvard University and retired professor of history at George Washington University. He is the author of Revolution in Time, The Unbound Prometheus, The Wealth and Poverty of Nations, and Dynasties...
, 1991) and The Political Economy of Japan: Cultural and Social Dynamics (with Shumpei Kumon, 1992).
Thomas Short of Commentary
Commentary (magazine)
Commentary is a monthly American magazine on politics, Judaism, social and cultural issues. It was founded by the American Jewish Committee in 1945. By 1960 its editor was Norman Podhoretz, a liberal at the time who moved sharply to the right in the 1970s and 1980s becoming a strong voice for the...
magazine praised The University as "a cozy book" where Rosovsky, with "a humorous, relentlessly self-deprecating manner," shares "many anecdotes from his own career in higher education."