Lester Thurow
Encyclopedia
Lester Carl Thurow is a former dean of the MIT Sloan School of Management
and author of books on economic topics. Thurow was born in Livingston, Montana
.
in political economy
from Williams College
in 1960, where he was in Theta Delta Chi
and Phi Beta Kappa as a junior, and a Tyng Scholar. Thurow was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, and went to Balliol College
, Oxford
to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics, graduating in 1962 with first class honors. He received a Ph.D. in Economics
from Harvard University
in 1964.
of Analog Devices
, Grupo Casa Autrey, E-Trade, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp.
. Thurow was also one of the original founders of the Economic Policy Institute
in 1986. Thurow is currently an economics
columnist
for, among others, the Boston Globe and USA Today
. He was previously an economics columnist for and on the editorial board of the New York Times, and was a contributing editor to Newsweek
.
Thurow is a longtime advocate of a political and economic system of the Japanese and European type, in which government
al involvement in the direction of the economy
is far more extensive than is presently the case in the United States
– a model that has come to be known as "Third Way
" philosophy. Thurow supports a more universal patent system as a requirement for a knowledge-based economy, where governments would assess the value of infringements of intellectual property against their companies by competitors in foreign jurisdictions and allow these companies to match that.
His other books include:
MIT Sloan School of Management
The MIT Sloan School of Management is the business school of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge, Massachusetts....
and author of books on economic topics. Thurow was born in Livingston, Montana
Livingston, Montana
-Geography:Livingston is located at , at an altitude of 4.501 feet .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 0.38% is waters.-Climate:-Demographics:...
.
Education
He received his B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in political economy
Political economy
Political economy originally was the term for studying production, buying, and selling, and their relations with law, custom, and government, as well as with the distribution of national income and wealth, including through the budget process. Political economy originated in moral philosophy...
from Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
in 1960, where he was in Theta Delta Chi
Theta Delta Chi
Theta Delta Chi is a social fraternity that was founded in 1847 at Union College. While nicknames differ from institution to institution, the most common nicknames for the fraternity are Theta Delt, Thete, TDX, and TDC. Theta Delta Chi brothers refer to their local organization as Charges rather...
and Phi Beta Kappa as a junior, and a Tyng Scholar. Thurow was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, and went to Balliol College
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics, graduating in 1962 with first class honors. He received a Ph.D. in 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"...
from Harvard University
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...
in 1964.
Career
Thurow is on the board of directorsBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Analog Devices
Analog Devices
Analog Devices, Inc. , known as ADI, is an American multinational semiconductor company specializing in data conversion and signal conditioning technology, headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts...
, Grupo Casa Autrey, E-Trade, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp.
TSMC
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Limited or TSMC is the world's largest dedicated independent semiconductor foundry, with its headquarters and main operations located in the Hsinchu Science Park in Hsinchu, Taiwan.-Overview:...
. Thurow was also one of the original founders of the Economic Policy Institute
Economic Policy Institute
The Economic Policy Institute is a 501 non-profit, liberal, nonpartisan think tank that seeks to broaden the public debate about strategies to achieve a prosperous and fair economy...
in 1986. Thurow is currently an 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"...
columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
for, among others, the Boston Globe and USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
. He was previously an economics columnist for and on the editorial board of the New York Times, and was a contributing editor to Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
.
Thurow is a longtime advocate of a political and economic system of the Japanese and European type, in which government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
al involvement in the direction of the economy
Economy
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
is far more extensive than is presently the case in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
– a model that has come to be known as "Third Way
Third way (centrism)
The Third Way refers to various political positions which try to reconcile right-wing and left-wing politics by advocating a varying synthesis of right-wing economic and left-wing social policies. Third Way approaches are commonly viewed from within the first- and second-way perspectives as...
" philosophy. Thurow supports a more universal patent system as a requirement for a knowledge-based economy, where governments would assess the value of infringements of intellectual property against their companies by competitors in foreign jurisdictions and allow these companies to match that.
Books
His book, Head to Head: The Coming Economic Battle Among Japan, Europe and America published in 1993, compares economic growth and living standards among Japan, Europe, and the USA.His other books include:
- Fortune Favors the Bold: What we must do to build a new and lasting global prosperity (2003).
- The Future of Capitalism: how today's economic forces shape tomorrow's world (1996).
- The Zero-sum Solution: building a world-class American economy (1985).
- Dangerous Currents: the state of economics (1983).
- The Zero-sum Society: distribution and the possibilities for economic change (1980).
External links
- The Economic Policy Institute
- Thurow New York Times Piece On Rate of Chinese Economic Growth
- CFO Magazine – Interview
- The Globalist – Short Biography
- Video lecture by Thurow on The Emergence of China in the Global Economy, 2004.
- Video lecture of Thurow discussing his book Fortune Favors the Bold, 2003.
- Video lecture by Thurow on Globalization and the Economic Downturn, 2002.
- Video lecture by Thurow on Knowledge Based Economy and Global Competition: Its Impact on Asia, 2001.