Arthur M. Okun

ARTHUR M. OKUN

(November 28, 1928–March 23, 1980)

BiographyIn MemoriamPublication List

Arthur M. Okun
Memorial Lectures

The lecture series honors the memory of Arthur M. Okun (1928–1980). The donor, a Yale alumnus who was a long-time associate, friend, and admirer of Okun, stated the reasons for the series in these words:
Arthur Okun combined his special gifts as an analytical and theoretical economist with his great concern for the well-being of his fellow citizens into a thoughtful, pragmatic, and sustaining contribution to his nation's public policy.
Extraordinarily modest personally, he was a delightful and trenchant activist on behalf of others — both as members of our whole society and as individuals. He touched many, many people in ways they will always cherish.
Offered in affectionate appreciation of Art's gifts, this lecture series seeks to recognize and encourage professional economists to search for policies that will contribute to the betterment of life and living.

Feb. 2013
Daniel Kahneman

Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Laureate, Senior Scholar; Eugene Higgins Professor of Psychology, Emeritus; and Professor of Psychology and Public Affairs, Emeritus, Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University [Biographical SketchPress ReleasePhotographsYouTube Video]
   "A Psychological Perspective on Rationality"


March 2010
Raghuram G. Rajan

Raghuram G. Rajan, Eric J. Gleacher Distinguished Service Professor of Finance, University of Chicago Booth School of Business  [Biographical SketchPress Release]
   "Is It Over Yet? The Deeper Underpinnings of the Crisis"


April 2009
Robert E. Rubin

Robert E. Rubin, Co-Chairman, Council on Foreign Relations and Former U.S. Treasury Secretary  [Biographical SketchPress ReleasePhotographs]
   "The Global Crisis and Decision Making"


April 2008
Lawrence H. Summers

Lawrence H. Summers, Charles W. Eliot University Professor, Harvard University
   [Biographical Sketch — Video/Transcript: Part 1, Part 2Press Release]
   "Learning from and Responding to Financial Crisis"


Sep. 2006
Kenneth S. Rogoff

Kenneth S. Rogoff, Thomas D. Cabot Professor of Public Policy and Professor of Economics, Harvard University [Biographical SketchPress Release]
   "The Globalization of Monetary Policy"


Oct. 2003
Richard B. Freeman

Richard B. Freeman, Herbert Ascherman Professor of Economics, Harvard University  [Biographical Sketch — Press Release]
   "Working at the Endless Frontier: The Job Market for Scientists and
     Engineers"

      » What is Different about the Science and Engineering Job Market
      » Producing and Using Knowledge
      » Who Owns Science and Engineering?


April 2002
Alan S. Blinder

Alan S. Blinder, Professor of Economics and Co-director of the Center for Economic Policy Studies, Princeton University  [Press Release]
  "The Quiet Revolution: Central Banking Goes Modern"
      » Through the Looking Glass: Central Bank Transparency
      » Ex Uno Plures: Central Banking By Committee
      » Who's the Boss?: The Central Bank and the Markets


March 2001
Joseph E. Stiglitz

Joseph E. Stiglitz, Joan Kennedy Professor of Economics, Stanford University  [Press Release]
   "A Tale of Two Countries: Transition to a Market Economy in China
    and Russia"

      » Whither Reform? The Great Experiments
      » Privatization and Corporate Governance: Wealth Creation or Asset Stripping?
      » Shock Therapy vs. Peaceful and Strategic Evolution: Speculations on
         Why China Succeeded and Russia Failed


April 2000
Jeffrey D. Sachs

Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of the Center for International Development, Harvard University  [Press Release]
   "The Poorest of the Poor: The Unmet Challenge of Global Development"
      » Globalization and the Poorest of the Poor: The Limits of Convergence
      » The Health-Nutrition-Population Nexus: The Scope for Public Action
      » The Role of International Assistance: A Redesign of International Strategies


Oct. 1988
Robert E. Hall

Robert E. Hall, Professor of Economics, Stanford University and Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution
   "Booms and Recessions in a Noisy Economy"
      » Noise over Space and over Time
      » Measuring Noise
      » General Equilibrium with Noise


Oct. 1985
Charles L. Schultz

Charles L. Schultze, Director, Bureau of the Budget, Chairman, Council of Economic Advisers, and Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
  "Macroeconomic Lessons from U.S. and European History"
      » Inertial Inflation: Some Lessons from History
      » Real Wage Rigidity in Europe: Reality or Illusion?
      » A Century of U.S. Economic Fluctuations: Why Has
         Performance Improved?


Oct. 1983
Nicholas Kaldor

Nicholas Kaldor, Professor of Economics, King's College, Cambridge
   "Economics without Equilibrium"
      » Stylized Facts as a Basis for Theory Building
      » Supply and Demand
      » Interregional Trade and Cumulative Causation