Jan
Tinbergen received his doctorate in theoretical physics at Leiden University
in Holland. He is Emeritus Professor, Erasmus University, Rotterdam.
He and Ragnar Frisch won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1969 for "his
work in econometrics and econ omic measurement. In fact, he is among
the economists who developed econometrics. He switched his interest
from physics to economics partly as a reaction to the Great Depression.
His major work in econometrics was the development of multiequation
models of economies and he also showed that a government with several
economic targets must have at least as many policy instruments.
The following is on exerpt from , Solving the Most Urgent Problems First,
in "Eminent Economists: Their Life Philosophies", in which he expresses
his feelings toward economics and other sciences:
"A fascinating
subject, too, is the relationship between disciplines, the comparing
of different sciences. I cannot help sticking to my boyhood admiration
of physics, in particular, astrophysics. I think the most imaginative
contributions t o human understanding have been made by
Einstein. To
be faced with the fact that the velocity of light is the same when measured
from a body moving toward the source of a beam of light is the same
when measured from a body moving away from that source, a nd then to
change the concepts of time and space accordingly so that the constancy
of that velocity is the result--I cannot imagine more fundamental originality.
I think the
theories about the material universe reveal the unbelievably creative
working of the human mind. I feel the same about the chain we are building
from single hydrogen atoms to more complicated ones with carbon at the
threshold of organic chemi stry and from there to protein and subsequently
to cells; and gradually we are approaching the basic ideas of computers
as possible models of the working of our brains.
Coming back
to earth, economics takes possession of us. Economics is of human origin,
in contradistinction to the universe and our environment. It reflects
many of our imperfections, such as our self-centeredness, our myopia,
and the lagging of our idea ls behind evidence. As Keynes said: "Many
people's economic thinking is based on what they were taught decades
ago." But as everyone who has to operate in the economy thinks to be
an expert, doctrinaire thinking abounds. So much for the shortcomings
o f others. I have my own. "Trial and error" might characterize my way
of working.
Works
by Jan Tinbergen:
Vertragingsgolven
en levensduurgolven, Strijdenskracht door Wetensmacht
Spardefizit
und Handelsdefizit, Weltwirtschaftliches Allocations of Workers over
Jobs, De Economist
Business
Cycles in the United Kingdom
Business
Cycles in the United States
On the Theory
of Economic Policy
Solving the
Most Urgent Problems First, Eminent Economists: Their Life Philosophies