Robert R. Nathan (December 25, 1908 – September 4, 2001) was an American economist heavily involved in US industrial mobilization during World War II, a liberal activist, and a pioneer in third-world economic development.[1]
Nathan grew up in Dayton, Ohio and attended the University of Pennsylvania, receiving a BA and MA. While in college, Nathan supported himself by factory work and selling silk stockings and telephone memo pads.
Careeredit
In 1933, Nathan joined US Commerce Department. During this time he worked with the influential economist Simon Kuznets, who he had also studied under at Wharton, in implementing the first national income measurements which would later serve as the basis for the GNP.[2] When World War II started, Nathan frequently criticized the lack of industrial readiness should the United States enter the war.[3]
In 1942, Nathan was elected as a Fellow of the American Statistical Association.[4] That same year he was appointed chair of the federal War Production Board's planning committee. A chief insight was to plan for war production based on the U.S. population rather than on the basis of the existing industrial plant. Nathan also made the case to military officials that economic mobilization would not be able to support an invasion of Europe until 1944.[5] Growing increasingly dissatisfied with the internal politics of the War Production Board, and feeling the need to serve his country, he volunteered for the Army in May 1943, though back injuries prevented him from serving in combat.[2] During a long period of hospitalization for those injuries, Nathan wrote a book entitled Mobilizing for Abundance in which he argued for Keynesian policies to be extended after the war to preserve peacetime economic stability.[6]
After the war. Nathan started the consulting firm Robert R. Nathan Associates (now Nathan Associates, Inc.) which conducted major economic development projects in the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. During the 1950s, Nathan served for a period as chair of Americans for Democratic Action. In this role, he was openly critical of President Dwight Eisenhower's conservative policies.[7][3] During subsequent decades, Nathan participated in Johnson administration efforts to further development in South Vietnam; supported Hubert Humphrey's presidential candidacy; and consulted in a number of high-profile projects, including the Curt Flood case.[1]
robert, nathan, december, 1908, september, 2001, american, economist, heavily, involved, industrial, mobilization, during, world, liberal, activist, pioneer, third, world, economic, development, contents, early, life, career, death, references, external, links. Robert R Nathan December 25 1908 September 4 2001 was an American economist heavily involved in US industrial mobilization during World War II a liberal activist and a pioneer in third world economic development 1 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Death 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editNathan grew up in Dayton Ohio and attended the University of Pennsylvania receiving a BA and MA While in college Nathan supported himself by factory work and selling silk stockings and telephone memo pads Career editIn 1933 Nathan joined US Commerce Department During this time he worked with the influential economist Simon Kuznets who he had also studied under at Wharton in implementing the first national income measurements which would later serve as the basis for the GNP 2 When World War II started Nathan frequently criticized the lack of industrial readiness should the United States enter the war 3 In 1942 Nathan was elected as a Fellow of the American Statistical Association 4 That same year he was appointed chair of the federal War Production Board s planning committee A chief insight was to plan for war production based on the U S population rather than on the basis of the existing industrial plant Nathan also made the case to military officials that economic mobilization would not be able to support an invasion of Europe until 1944 5 Growing increasingly dissatisfied with the internal politics of the War Production Board and feeling the need to serve his country he volunteered for the Army in May 1943 though back injuries prevented him from serving in combat 2 During a long period of hospitalization for those injuries Nathan wrote a book entitled Mobilizing for Abundance in which he argued for Keynesian policies to be extended after the war to preserve peacetime economic stability 6 After the war Nathan started the consulting firm Robert R Nathan Associates now Nathan Associates Inc which conducted major economic development projects in the Middle East Asia and Latin America During the 1950s Nathan served for a period as chair of Americans for Democratic Action In this role he was openly critical of President Dwight Eisenhower s conservative policies 7 3 During subsequent decades Nathan participated in Johnson administration efforts to further development in South Vietnam supported Hubert Humphrey s presidential candidacy and consulted in a number of high profile projects including the Curt Flood case 1 Death editNathan died on September 4 2001 in Bethesda Maryland 3 References edit a b Durr Kenneth D 2013 The Best Made Plans Robert R Nathan and 20th Century Liberalism Montrose Press ISBN 978 0 9827977 4 7 a b Robert R Nathan Oral History Interview Harry S Truman www trumanlibrary gov Retrieved 2020 07 12 a b c Schiesel Seth Robert R Nathan 92 Dies Set Factory Goals in War NY Times Retrieved 12 August 2018 View Search Fellows of the ASA accessed 2016 07 23 Lacey Jim 2011 Keep From All Thoughtful Men How U S Economists Won World War II Annapolis Naval Institute Press Nathan Robert R 1944 Mobilizing for Abundance New York McGraw Hill https www bea gov scb pdf 2002 02 20February 0202Tribute pdf Katz Arnold J Katz 2002 February A Tribute to Robert Nathan U S Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic AnalysisExternal links editAppearances on C SPAN nbsp This biography of an American economist is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert R Nathan amp oldid 1093349903, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
