A Biographical Dictionary of Australian and New Zealand Economists

This book documents the history of economic discourse in Australia and New Zealand from the early days of European settlement. Many of the early economists were immigrants (William Hearn, Charles Pearson, Catherine Spence, David Syme). A few (such as W.C. Wentworth, born on the First Fleet) were proud natives, self-taught but confident and assertive in their use of economic arguments. The 20th century brought European refugees (Heinz Arndt, Harro Bernardelli, Fred Gruen, Kurt Singer) and a healthy crop of locally-born public servant-economists (Bernard Ashwin, John Crawford, ‘Nugget’ Coombs, Leslie Melville, Roland Wilson).

There were theorists of international renown (Richard Manning, Wilfred Salter, Trevor Swan), some who made important contributions to public policy debates (Ronald Henderson, Eric Russell) or distinguished themselves in econometrics (Rex Bergstrom, Bill Phillips). The 130 entries in this volume have been written by more than 50 international authorities, revealing the depth and diversity of economics in Australia and New Zealand over almost two centuries.

This biographical dictionary is a rich and comprehensive original reference work that will appeal to many economists and researchers of history and public policy in addition to those involved in the history of economic thought.