Tibor Scitovsky
Encyclopedia
Tibor de Scitovsky, also known as Tibor Scitovsky, (November 3, 1910 – June 1, 2002), was a Hungarian
born, American
economist
who was best known for his writing on the nature of people's happiness in relation to consumption. He was Associate Professor and Professor of Economics at Stanford University
from 1946 through 1958 and Eberle Professor of Economics from 1970 until his retirement in 1976, when he became Professor Emeritus. In honor of his deep contributions to economic analysis, he was elected Distinguished Fellow of the American Economic Association
, Fellow of the Royal Economic Society
, member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
, and Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy
.
in 1910. As the de indicates, he was born into a noble family; his father, Tibor Scitovszky
held the post of Foreign Minister. He was educated at the Pázmány Péter University (from which he held an undergraduate degree in law), University of Cambridge
, and the London School of Economics
. He came to the United States
on a traveling fellowship. He enlisted in the United States Army
during World War II
, in counter-intelligence. Because he still had family in German-allied Hungary he changed his name during this time to Thomas Dennis.
After a spell at Stanford from 1946–1948, he left for Berkeley
and remained there until 1968, although he was on leave to do research at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Starting as early as 1959, he began an examination of the nature of human well-being from a broader viewpoint than is customary among economists.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
born, American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
who was best known for his writing on the nature of people's happiness in relation to consumption. He was Associate Professor and Professor of Economics at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
from 1946 through 1958 and Eberle Professor of Economics from 1970 until his retirement in 1976, when he became Professor Emeritus. In honor of his deep contributions to economic analysis, he was elected Distinguished Fellow of the American Economic Association
American Economic Association
The American Economic Association, or AEA, is a learned society in the field of economics, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. It publishes one of the most prestigious academic journals in economics: the American Economic Review...
, Fellow 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...
, member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
, and Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
.
Life
Scitovsky was born in HungaryHungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
in 1910. As the de indicates, he was born into a noble family; his father, Tibor Scitovszky
Tibor Scitovszky
Tibor Scitovszky de Nagykér was a Hungarian politician, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1924 and 1925. He started his career in the Ministry of Trade after he attended the university in Budapest and Paris. During the Treaty of Trianon he participated in the peace negotiations...
held the post of Foreign Minister. He was educated at the Pázmány Péter University (from which he held an undergraduate degree in law), University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, and the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. He came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on a traveling fellowship. He enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
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...
, in counter-intelligence. Because he still had family in German-allied Hungary he changed his name during this time to Thomas Dennis.
After a spell at Stanford from 1946–1948, he left for Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
and remained there until 1968, although he was on leave to do research at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Starting as early as 1959, he began an examination of the nature of human well-being from a broader viewpoint than is customary among economists.
Major works
- "A Study of Interest and Capital", 1940, Economica.
- "A Note on Welfare Propositions in Economics", 1941, RES.
- "Capital Accumulation, Employment and Price Rigidity", 1941, RES.
- "A Reconsideration of the Theory of Tariffs", 1942, RES.
- "A Note on Profit Maximization and its Implications", 1943, RES.
- Welfare and Competition: the economics of a fully employed economy, 1951.
- Mobilizing Resources for War: The economic alternatives, with E.S. Shaw and L. Tarshis, 1951.
- "Two Concepts of External Economies", 1954, JPE.
- Economic Theory and Western European Integration, 1958.
- "Standards for the Performance of Our Economic System", 1960, AER.
- "On the Principle of Consumer's Sovereignty", 1962, AER
- Papers on Welfare and Growth, 1964.
- Money and the Balance of Payments, 1969.
- Industry and Trade in Some Developing Countries, with I.M.D. Little and M.F.G. Scott, 1970.
- "What's Wrong with the Arts is What's Wrong with Society", 1972, AER.
- "The Producer Society", 1972, De Economist.
- "The Place of Economic Welfare in Human Welfare", 1973, QJE.
- "Inequalities: Open and hidden, measured and immeasurable", 1974, Annals of AAPSS.
- "Are Men Rational or Economists Wrong?", 1974, in Nations and Households in Economic Growth.
- The Joyless Economy: An inquiry into human satisfaction and consumer dissatisfaction, 1976.
- "Market Power and Inflation", 1978, Economica.
- "Asymmetries in Economics", 1978, Scottish Journal of PE.
- "Can Changing Consumer Tastes Save Resources?", 1979, in Economic Growth and Resources.
- "Can Capitalism Survive? An old question in a new setting", 1980, AER.
- "Excess Demand for Job Importance and its Implications", 1981, in Wert und Praeferenzprobleme in den Sozialwissenschaften.
- "The Desire for Excitement in Modern Society", 1981, Kyklos.
- "Subsidies for the Arts: The economic argument", 1983, in Economic Support for the Arts.
- "Human Desire and Economic Satisfaction", 1985, Kyklos.
- "Psychologizing by Economists", 1986, in MacFadyen, editors, Psychology.
- Human Desire and Economic Satisfaction: Essays on the frontiers of economics, 1986.
- "Growth in the Affluent Society", 1987, Lloyds BR.