Kārlis Balodis
Encyclopedia
Kārlis Balodis was a notable Latvian economist
, financist
, statistician
and demographist. Most notably, he is the author of civilian rationing, which was first used in Germany
during the First World War. Balodis has received the Grand Gold Medal of the Russian Academy of Sciences
, as well as Dmitry Tolstoy
Prize.
. In 1888, he was sent to Brazil
to work as a Lutheran minister
. In 1891 and 1892, he studied geography
at the University of Jena. Between 1893 and 1895, he worked as a minister in the Ural Mountains
region, and wrote his first researchs on demography
and statistics
. In 1895, he started studying economics
at the University of Munich.
After 1899, Balodis worked as an associate professor at the University of Berlin. In 1905, he became an employee of Prussia
n Statistics Office, and in 1908, he started work at the German Federal Ministry of Finance. In 1918 he became the first chairman of the Pro Palestinian Committee. In 1919, he worked on the civilian rationing system.
After the war Balodis returned to Latvia
, where he became a professor
at the University of Latvia
. In 1928, he became a member of the Parliament of Latvia.
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...
, financist
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...
, statistician
Statistician
A statistician is someone who works with theoretical or applied statistics. The profession exists in both the private and public sectors. The core of that work is to measure, interpret, and describe the world and human activity patterns within it...
and demographist. Most notably, he is the author of civilian rationing, which was first used in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
during the First World War. Balodis has received the Grand Gold Medal of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Academy of Sciences
The Russian Academy of Sciences consists of the national academy of Russia and a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation as well as auxiliary scientific and social units like libraries, publishers and hospitals....
, as well as Dmitry Tolstoy
Dmitry Tolstoy
Count Dmitry Andreyevich Tolstoy was a Russian statesman, a member of the State Council of Imperial Russia . He belonged to the comital branch of the Tolstoy family....
Prize.
Career
Between 1884 and 1887 Kārlis studied teology at the University of TartuUniversity of Tartu
The University of Tartu is a classical university in the city of Tartu, Estonia. University of Tartu is the national university of Estonia; it is the biggest and highest-ranked university in Estonia...
. In 1888, he was sent to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
to work as a Lutheran minister
Minister
Minister can mean several things:* Minister , a Christian who ministers in some way* Minister , the rank of diplomat directly below ambassador* Minister , a politician who heads a ministry...
. In 1891 and 1892, he studied geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
at the University of Jena. Between 1893 and 1895, he worked as a minister in the Ural Mountains
Ural Mountains
The Ural Mountains , or simply the Urals, are a mountain range that runs approximately from north to south through western Russia, from the coast of the Arctic Ocean to the Ural River and northwestern Kazakhstan. Their eastern side is usually considered the natural boundary between Europe and Asia...
region, and wrote his first researchs on demography
Demography
Demography is the statistical study of human population. It can be a very general science that can be applied to any kind of dynamic human population, that is, one that changes over time or space...
and statistics
Statistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
. In 1895, he started studying economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at the University of Munich.
After 1899, Balodis worked as an associate professor at the University of Berlin. In 1905, he became an employee of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n Statistics Office, and in 1908, he started work at the German Federal Ministry of Finance. In 1918 he became the first chairman of the Pro Palestinian Committee. In 1919, he worked on the civilian rationing system.
After the war Balodis returned to Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, where he became a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the University of Latvia
University of Latvia
University of Latvia is a university located in Riga, Latvia. Being established in 1919, University of Latvia is the biggest university in the Baltic states.-History:...
. In 1928, he became a member of the Parliament of Latvia.