History of Economics at the University of Otago

From the University of Otago School of Business

“An official book launch celebrating Emeritus Professor Lyall McLean’s “A History of Economics and the Development of Commerce Degrees at the University of Otago 1871-2009” took place last night in Council Chambers of the University of Otago.

Lyall’s book builds on the work undertaken by Emeritus Professor T.K. Cowan who in 1988 wrote “Commerce at Otago, 1912 – 1987”

In addition to the history of the School the book includes, as an appendix, the names of all 19000+ graduates, listed by departments and 100+ photographs including the professors, Deans, heads of departments and the first PhD graduates of each department, will be available for sale at the launch.

This book is available for purchase at University Book Shop.”

A History of Economics and the Development of Commerce Degrees at the University of Otago 1871-2009 by Lyall McLean

 

Scoping the History of Economics in New Zealand

Gary Hawke and Ralph Lattimore presented the paper History of NZAE 20 July 05 at the New Zealand Association of Economists Meetings, Christchurch, June 2005. The paper is work in progress, intended to stimulate input into a history of the first 50 years of the NZ Association of Economists which will be celebrated in 2009. If it is quoted, its preliminary nature should be respected. Hawke, Head of the School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington, Gary.Hawke@vuw.ac.nz, Lattimore, consulting economist, Hope, Ralph.Lattimore@xtra.co.nz. The authors acknowledge the valuable library assistance of Sarah Spring and advice from John Yeabsley.

A Biographical Dictionary of Australian and New Zealand Economists

Keith Rankin provides a review in Agenda, Volume 15, Number 2, 2008 of “A Biographical Dictionary of Australian and New Zealand Economists” edited by J. E. King. Some excerpts from the review …

” … a wonderful resource for anyone interested in the intellectual foundations of Australia and New Zealand

“For an Australian book, it is refreshing that many of the subjects are New Zealanders

“Those economists whose contributed to economic thought and/or policy on both sides of ‘the ditch’ (as New Zealanders call the Tasman Sea) were Robert Torrens, E. G. Wakefield, Henry Hayter, Timothy Coghlan, William Pember Reeves, R. F. Irvine, Douglas Copland, A. G. B. Fisher, Colin Clark, Colin Simkin and Richard Manning.

“I enjoyed Alex Millmow’s account of Douglas Copland, a New Zealander who was trained under the auspices of Sir James Hight’s ‘Canterbury School’, along with J. B. Condliffe. Both men went on to stellar global careers while retaining strong identities with their places of origin. Copland would undoubtedly have been one of New Zealand’s greatest economists had he not been ‘unsuccessful in securing a chair in New Zealand’.

“This is a book that belongs in all of Australasia’s academic, public service and metropolitan public libraries. It also belongs in many of our private libraries, as a reference work, and as a book to just dip into for a random snippet from our intellectual past.

The book is available for purchase from the publisher