W. M. Gorman
Encyclopedia
William Moore "Terence" Gorman (17 June 1923 - 12 January 2003) was an Irish
economist
and academic. He was predominantly a theorist and is most famous for his work on aggregation
and separability of goods, and in this context he developed his famous Gorman polar form
. Gorman's career saw him a professor at such schools as Oxford
, London School of Economics
, Johns Hopkins
, and Stanford, and he was honored with the Presidency of the Econometric Society
in 1972. His work was often highly technical
and theoretical in nature, which made him incomprehensible to many of his contemporaries, but his keen eye for applications has given his work a lasting influence on modern economics.
in County Fermanagh
, Northern Ireland
on 17 June 1923. He spent his early childhood in Lusaka, Rhodesia, where his African Nanny called him Terence, saying that William was not a proper Irish name; he was subsequently known as Terrence, or 'Terry', throughout his life. Following the shooting dead of his father when Gorman was four years old, he returned with his mother and her staff to his mother's family's estate in Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, where he was brought up.
He attended Mount Temple College in Dublin, an exclusive preparatory school, and Foyle College (now Foyle and Londonderry College) in Derry
before moving on to Trinity College, Dublin
in 1941. From 1943 to 1946, he served in the Royal Navy
as a Rating
and then Petty Officer
before finally graduating from Trinity in 1948 in Economics and in 1949 in Mathematics
, by which time he was involved with Alan Turing on the development of the computer. While at Trinity, he met his future wife, Dorinda. Gorman was highly influenced by Trinity Professor, George A. Duncan, as well as by James Davidson at Foyle College.
in England
where he taught from 1949 to 1962. Birmingham was at that time a leading centre for theoretical research, employing such luminaries as Gorman, Frank Hahn
, and Maurice McManus. It was during this time that what is now called Gorman polar form
was rigorously introduced in an article entitled, “On a class of preference fields,” published in the journal Metroeconomica, in August 1961.
He moved on from Birmingham serving as chair of Economics at Oxford
beginning in 1962, and then as chair at the London School of Economics
in 1967, where he introduced an American style mathematical economics program. He served as a fellow of Nuffield College
at Oxford from 1979 a Senior Research Fellow in 1984 and an Emeritus Fellow in 1990. He also spent time in the United States
as a Visiting Fellow, doing research at Iowa
, Johns Hopkins
, North Carolina
, and Stanford
.
After retirement, he continued to live in Oxford, although he spent his summers in County Cork
, until in his last years illness impaired his mobility.
as a unity with history
as one way of holding them together" http://www.esr.ie/Vol34_2Neary.pdf. With this foundation, Gorman's theory was based both in empirical research
and on the opinions and views of social scientists. But above all, Gorman was a mathematically talented economist, and his penchant for inter-disciplinarianism was only present in as much as that diversity presented him with tools to use or develop in order to explore the links between individual preferences and market
behavior, which is, after all, one of the most central issues in economics.
. The lectures are not confined to any sub-discipline of economics, and they are usually developed into a book by published by co-sponsor, Princeton University Press
. The first lectures were delivered by Nobel Laureate Professor James Heckman
of Chicago University in December 2001. Avinash Dixit
delivered the lectures in 2003. Robert M. Townsend
of MIT
delivered them in 2010.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
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...
and academic. He was predominantly a theorist and is most famous for his work on aggregation
Aggregation
Aggregation may refer to uses in:* Business and economics:** Aggregation problem ** Purchasing aggregation, the joining of multiple purchasers in a group purchasing organization to increase their buying power...
and separability of goods, and in this context he developed his famous Gorman polar form
Gorman polar form
Gorman polar form is a functional form for indirect utility functions in economics. Imposing this form on utility allows the researcher to treat a society of utility-maximizers as if it consisted of a single 'representative' individual. W. M...
. Gorman's career saw him a professor at such schools as Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, 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...
, Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, and Stanford, and he was honored with the Presidency of the Econometric Society
Econometric Society
The Econometric Society is an international society for the advancement of economic theory in its relation with statistics and mathematics. It was founded on December 29, 1930 at the Stalton Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio....
in 1972. His work was often highly technical
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
and theoretical in nature, which made him incomprehensible to many of his contemporaries, but his keen eye for applications has given his work a lasting influence on modern economics.
Young life
Gorman was born in KeshKesh, County Fermanagh
Kesh is a village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is on the Kesh River about from Lower Lough Erne. The 2001 Census recorded a population of 972 people....
in County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
on 17 June 1923. He spent his early childhood in Lusaka, Rhodesia, where his African Nanny called him Terence, saying that William was not a proper Irish name; he was subsequently known as Terrence, or 'Terry', throughout his life. Following the shooting dead of his father when Gorman was four years old, he returned with his mother and her staff to his mother's family's estate in Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, where he was brought up.
He attended Mount Temple College in Dublin, an exclusive preparatory school, and Foyle College (now Foyle and Londonderry College) in Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
before moving on to Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
in 1941. From 1943 to 1946, he served in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as a Rating
Naval rating
A Naval Rating is an enlisted member of a country's Navy, subordinate to Warrant Officers and Officers hence not conferred by commission or warrant...
and then Petty Officer
Petty Officer
A petty officer is a non-commissioned officer in many navies and is given the NATO rank denotion OR-6. They are equal in rank to sergeant, British Army and Royal Air Force. A Petty Officer is superior in rank to Leading Rate and subordinate to Chief Petty Officer, in the case of the British Armed...
before finally graduating from Trinity in 1948 in Economics and in 1949 in Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, by which time he was involved with Alan Turing on the development of the computer. While at Trinity, he met his future wife, Dorinda. Gorman was highly influenced by Trinity Professor, George A. Duncan, as well as by James Davidson at Foyle College.
Academic career
He began his career at the University of BirminghamUniversity of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
where he taught from 1949 to 1962. Birmingham was at that time a leading centre for theoretical research, employing such luminaries as Gorman, Frank Hahn
Frank Hahn
Frank Horace Hahn is a British economist whose work has focused on general equilibrium theory, monetary theory, Keynesian economics and monetarism...
, and Maurice McManus. It was during this time that what is now called Gorman polar form
Gorman polar form
Gorman polar form is a functional form for indirect utility functions in economics. Imposing this form on utility allows the researcher to treat a society of utility-maximizers as if it consisted of a single 'representative' individual. W. M...
was rigorously introduced in an article entitled, “On a class of preference fields,” published in the journal Metroeconomica, in August 1961.
He moved on from Birmingham serving as chair of Economics at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
beginning in 1962, and then as chair at 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...
in 1967, where he introduced an American style mathematical economics program. He served as a fellow of Nuffield College
Nuffield College, Oxford
Nuffield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is an all-graduate college and primarily a research establishment, specialising in the social sciences, particularly economics, politics and sociology. It is a research centre in the social sciences...
at Oxford from 1979 a Senior Research Fellow in 1984 and an Emeritus Fellow in 1990. He also spent time in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a Visiting Fellow, doing research at Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, and Stanford
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...
.
After retirement, he continued to live in Oxford, although he spent his summers in County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, until in his last years illness impaired his mobility.
Approach to Economics
Gorman credited his early education at Trinity and Foyle for teaching him "to think of mathematics and economics as styles of thought, not collections of theorems," and his experience at Birmingham taught him "to think of the social sciencesSocial sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
as a unity with history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
as one way of holding them together" http://www.esr.ie/Vol34_2Neary.pdf. With this foundation, Gorman's theory was based both in empirical research
Empirical research
Empirical research is a way of gaining knowledge by means of direct and indirect observation or experience. Empirical evidence can be analyzed quantitatively or qualitatively...
and on the opinions and views of social scientists. But above all, Gorman was a mathematically talented economist, and his penchant for inter-disciplinarianism was only present in as much as that diversity presented him with tools to use or develop in order to explore the links between individual preferences and market
Market
A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
behavior, which is, after all, one of the most central issues in economics.
Awards, Honors and Honorary Positions
- Presidency of the Econometric SocietyEconometric SocietyThe Econometric Society is an international society for the advancement of economic theory in its relation with statistics and mathematics. It was founded on December 29, 1930 at the Stalton Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio....
in 1972 - Fellowship of the British AcademyBritish AcademyThe 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...
- Membership of Academia EuropaeaAcademia EuropaeaAcademia Europæa is a European non-governmental scientific academy founded in 1988. Its members are scientists and scholars who collectively aim to promote learning, education and research. It publishes European Review through Cambridge Journals....
- Honorary foreign membership of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesAmerican Academy of Arts and SciencesThe 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...
- Honorary foreign membership of the American Economic AssociationAmerican Economic AssociationThe 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...
- Honorary doctorate from University College LondonUniversity College LondonUniversity College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
- Honorary doctorate from the University of BirminghamUniversity of BirminghamThe University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
- Honorary doctorate from the University of SouthamptonUniversity of SouthamptonThe University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
- Honorary doctorate from the National University of IrelandNational University of IrelandThe National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
in 1986 - Honorary fellowship from Trinity College, DublinTrinity College, DublinTrinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
The Gorman Lectures
The Gorman Lectures in Economics, named after W. M. Gorman, is an annual project that takes place at the Department of Economics of University College LondonUniversity College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. The lectures are not confined to any sub-discipline of economics, and they are usually developed into a book by published by co-sponsor, Princeton University Press
Princeton University Press
-Further reading:* "". Artforum International, 2005.-External links:* * * * *...
. The first lectures were delivered by Nobel Laureate Professor James Heckman
James Heckman
James Joseph Heckman is an American economist and Nobel laureate. He is the Henry Schultz Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago, Professor of Science and Society at University College Dublin and a Senior Research Fellow at the American Bar Foundation.Heckman...
of Chicago University in December 2001. Avinash Dixit
Avinash Dixit
Avinash Kamalakar Dixit is an Indian-American economist originally of Indian nationality.-Education:Dixit received a B.Sc. from Bombay University in 1963 in Mathematics and Physics, a B.A...
delivered the lectures in 2003. Robert M. Townsend
Robert M. Townsend
Robert M. Townsend is an American economist and professor, the Elizabeth and James Killian Professor of Economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Prior to joining MIT, he was the Charles E...
of MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
delivered them in 2010.
Resources
- Honohan, Patrick, and Neary, J Peter. W. M. Gorman (1923–2003). The Economic and Social Review, Vol. 34, No. 2, Summer/Autumn, 2003, pp. 195-209 http://www.esr.ie/Vol34_2Neary.pdf
- On a class of preference fields, Metroeconomica, 13, August 1961, 53-56.