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Lawrence R. Klein 1920–2013: Notes on the early years

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  • Bjerkholt, Olav

Abstract

Klein can well be said to have created the field of macroeconometric modeling almost singlehandedly. His international influence started at an early stage. The article offers scattered archive observations on Klein's early years from undergraduate study to the University of Pennsylvania in 1958. Klein was in 1944 recruited by the Cowles Commission in Chicago to construct the first macroeconomic model in the USA, drawing on the experiences of the interwar modeling work of Jan Tinbergen and the new path-breaking econometric methods developed by Trygve Haavelmo. The first Klein model was taken into use at the end of 1945 to shed light on the prospects for the US economy in the transition from war to peace. After two-three years in Chicago Chicago, Klein traveled for a year in Europe and initiated macroeconometric modeling work in Canada, at the University of Michigan, and at Oxford University. This was only the beginning of the lifelong influence exerted on modelers around the globe. The article pays attention to Klein's relation to Paul Samuelson, Jacob Marschak, Trygve Haavelmo, Ragnar Frisch, and others.

Suggested Citation

  • Bjerkholt, Olav, 2014. "Lawrence R. Klein 1920–2013: Notes on the early years," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 767-784.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jpolmo:v:36:y:2014:i:5:p:767-784
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpolmod.2014.08.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Szenberg, Michael & Ramrattan, Lall & Gottesman, Aron A. (ed.), 2006. "Samuelsonian Economics and the Twenty-First Century," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199298839.
    2. Ball, R J, 1981. " On Lawrence R. Klein's Contributions to Economics," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 83(1), pages 81-103.
    3. Bjerkholt, Olav, 2015. "Trygve Haavelmo At The Cowles Commission," Econometric Theory, Cambridge University Press, vol. 31(1), pages 1-84, February.
    4. Ronald G. Bodkin & Lawrence R. Klein & Kanta Marwah, 1991. "A History of Macroeconometric Model-Building," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 51.
    5. Carl Christ, 1951. "A Test of an Econometric Model for the United States, 1921-1947," NBER Chapters, in: Conference on Business Cycles, pages 35-130, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Cited by:

    1. Erich Pinzón Fuchs, 2014. "Econometrics as a Pluralistic Scientific Tool for Economic Planning: On Lawrence R. Klein's Econometrics," Post-Print halshs-01130762, HAL.
    2. Erich Pinzón-Fuchs, 2018. "Lawrence R. Klein and the making of large-scale macro-econometric modeling, 1938-1955," Documentos CEDE 16161, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    3. Erich Pinzón-Fuchs, 2016. "Macroeconometric modeling as a "photographic description of reality" or as an "engine for the discovery of concrete truth" ? Friedman and Klein on statistical illusions," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) halshs-01364812, HAL.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Lawrence Klein;

    JEL classification:

    • B31 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought: Individuals - - - Individuals
    • B32 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought: Individuals - - - Obituaries
    • B23 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Econometrics; Quantitative and Mathematical Studies

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