Raymond Mikesell
Encyclopedia
Raymond Frech Mikesell was an economics
professor at the University of Oregon
and was believed to be the last surviving economist
from the Bretton Woods conference.
Mikesell was born in Eaton, Ohio
. He received a bachelor's degree from Ohio State University (OSU)
and, in 1939, received a doctorate
in economics from OSU. From 1937 to 1941, he was Assistant Professor at the University of Washington.
During World War II
, Mikesell became an adviser to Assistant Treasury Secretary Harry Dexter White
. Mikesell was a member of the technical staff at the Bretton Woods conference, which resulted in the creation of the World Bank
and the International Monetary Fund
. In his Bretton Woods Debates: A Memoir, Mikesell notes that he provided White with data that supported the United States' free trade position and calculated the initial quotas for the World Bank and IMF. He was a close friend of White, Frank Coe
, and Sol Adler, and believed that they were not Communist sympathizers.
Mikesell served the U.S. government in a number of capacities, including serving as representative of the United States Treasury Department in Cairo in 1943-44 and as the U.S. delegate to the Middle East Financial Conference in Cairo (April, 1944); as a member of the United States Currency Mission to Saudi Arabia
(1948); as member of the staff of the National Commission on Materials Policy; and Chief of the Foreign Resources Division (1951). He also served as an economic adviser to the Joint British-American Cabinet Committee on Palestine
.
He served as a consultant to the World Bank, the United Nations
and the Organization of American States
. He later argued for reform of the International Monetary Fund and abolishment of the World Bank, which he thought had become a useless and expensive bureaucracy. He was a member of the editorial board on the Middle East Journal
from 1947.
Mikesell joined the University of Virginia
department of Economics as professor in 1946 and accepted the W.E. Miner Chair at the University of Oregon in 1957, where he taught until 1993. He was an avid tennis
player and active outdoorsman, and he often took his doctoral students hiking
before advising them on their dissertations as they sat around a campfire
.
Mikesell died at his home in Eugene, Oregon
, aged 93, from natural causes.
"Negotiating at Bretton Woods, 1944," in R. Dennett and J.E. Johnson, edd., Negotiating With the Russians (Boston: World Peace Foundation, 1951), pp. 101–16
The Economics of Foreign Aid, Chicago, 1968 (reprinted New Brunswick, N.J., 2007)
The Bretton Woods Debates: A Memoir, Essays in International Finance 192 (Princeton: International Finance Section, Department of Economics, Princeton University, 1994)
"A National Retail Sales Tax? Some Thoughts on Taxing Consumption the American way," State Tax Notes 11:105-09 (July 8, 1996); cf. "A National Sales Tax? Taxing Consumption the American Way," Tax Notes 72:523-27 (July 22, 1996)
"Bretton Woods - Original Intentions and Current Problems," Contemporary Economic Policy 18.4:404-14 (October 2000)
"The Meltzer Commission Report on International Institutions," Economic Development and Cultural Change 49.4:[883]-94 (July 2001)
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"...
professor at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
and was believed to be the last surviving economist
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...
from the Bretton Woods conference.
Mikesell was born in Eaton, Ohio
Eaton, Ohio
Eaton is a city in and the county seat of Preble County, Ohio, United States. The population was 8,407 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. He received a bachelor's degree from Ohio State University (OSU)
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
and, in 1939, received a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in economics from OSU. From 1937 to 1941, he was Assistant Professor at the University of Washington.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Mikesell became an adviser to Assistant Treasury Secretary Harry Dexter White
Harry Dexter White
Harry Dexter White was an American economist, and senior U.S. Treasury department official, participating in the Bretton Woods conference...
. Mikesell was a member of the technical staff at the Bretton Woods conference, which resulted in the creation of 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 the International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
. In his Bretton Woods Debates: A Memoir, Mikesell notes that he provided White with data that supported the United States' free trade position and calculated the initial quotas for the World Bank and IMF. He was a close friend of White, Frank Coe
Frank Coe
Virginius Frank Coe was a United States government official who was identified by Soviet defectors Elizabeth Bentley and Whittaker Chambers as being an underground member of the Communist Party...
, and Sol Adler, and believed that they were not Communist sympathizers.
Mikesell served the U.S. government in a number of capacities, including serving as representative of the United States Treasury Department in Cairo in 1943-44 and as the U.S. delegate to the Middle East Financial Conference in Cairo (April, 1944); as a member of the United States Currency Mission to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
(1948); as member of the staff of the National Commission on Materials Policy; and Chief of the Foreign Resources Division (1951). He also served as an economic adviser to the Joint British-American Cabinet Committee on Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
.
He served as a consultant to the World Bank, the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and the Organization of American States
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
. He later argued for reform of the International Monetary Fund and abolishment of the World Bank, which he thought had become a useless and expensive bureaucracy. He was a member of the editorial board on the Middle East Journal
Middle East Journal
The Middle East Journal is published by the Washington, D.C.-based Middle East Institute. It was first published in 1947, making it the oldest U.S. peer-reviewed publication on the modern Middle East...
from 1947.
Mikesell joined the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
department of Economics as professor in 1946 and accepted the W.E. Miner Chair at the University of Oregon in 1957, where he taught until 1993. He was an avid tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player and active outdoorsman, and he often took his doctoral students hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
before advising them on their dissertations as they sat around a campfire
Campfire
A campfire is a fire lit at a campsite, to serve the following functions: light, warmth, a beacon, a bug and/or apex predator deterrent, to cook, and for a psychological sense of security. In established campgrounds they are usually in a fire ring for safety. Campfires are a popular feature of...
.
Mikesell died at his home in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, aged 93, from natural causes.
Selected publications
"The Key Currency Proposal," Quarterly Journal of Economics 59.4:563-576 (August 1945)"Negotiating at Bretton Woods, 1944," in R. Dennett and J.E. Johnson, edd., Negotiating With the Russians (Boston: World Peace Foundation, 1951), pp. 101–16
The Economics of Foreign Aid, Chicago, 1968 (reprinted New Brunswick, N.J., 2007)
The Bretton Woods Debates: A Memoir, Essays in International Finance 192 (Princeton: International Finance Section, Department of Economics, Princeton University, 1994)
"A National Retail Sales Tax? Some Thoughts on Taxing Consumption the American way," State Tax Notes 11:105-09 (July 8, 1996); cf. "A National Sales Tax? Taxing Consumption the American Way," Tax Notes 72:523-27 (July 22, 1996)
"Bretton Woods - Original Intentions and Current Problems," Contemporary Economic Policy 18.4:404-14 (October 2000)
"The Meltzer Commission Report on International Institutions," Economic Development and Cultural Change 49.4:[883]-94 (July 2001)
Sources
- Nolan, Rebecca. (2006, September 14). UO professor, Bretton Woods economist, dies at age 93. The Register-Guard, Eugene
- Staff and Wire Reports. (2006, September 17). Raymond Mikesell, 93; Economist Helped in Postwar Rebuilding. The Los Angeles Times
- University of Oregon, Department of Economics Annual Newsletter, Fall 2006
- Biography in R. Dennett and J.E. Johnson, edd., Negotiating With the Russians (Boston: World Peace Foundation, 1951), p. 100.