Henry Phelps Brown
Encyclopedia
Professor Sir Henry Phelps Brown (born 10 February 1906; died 15 December 1994) was a prominent British
economist
.
, Wiltshire
and studied at The Taunton Academy
before attending Wadham College at Oxford University to study first history and then economics.
, where he taught economics from 1930 to 1947.
Phelps Brown joined the British Army at the outbreak of World War II
and served in the Royal Artillery
. This followed a failed attempt to present himself for service in the Board of Trade
as an economic statistician. The chief statistician at that beginning of the war was attempting to reduce the work-force and was releasing statisticians for other war-related work, and by the time a new chief statistician was in place and looked to hire statisticians again, Phelps Brown was too embedded with his unit and chose not to leave them. At the end of the war, he was awarded the MBE.
Phelps Brown returned to Oxford after the war, but had lost seniority to those professors who had remained at home, so in 1947, he left Oxford to accept an appointment as Professor of the Economics of Labour at the London School of Economics
(LSE). During his tenure at LSE, Brown spent a year in the United States
as a Rockefeller Travelling Fellow
.
Phelps Brown remained at LSE until his retirment in 1968, at which time he returned to live in Oxford and spent the last 20 years of his life writing on various economic topics.
Phelps Brown is remembered as a careful and diligent teacher who prepared extensive notes for his student, and as a researcher who tied economics to social science to assess the impacts of economic theory on the lives of everyday peopele.
government formed the Council on Prices, Productivity and Incomes to monitory wage/price fluctuations. Phelps Brown was called to serve on this council, and sought to use an incomes policy to reduce inflation without driving higher unemployment. He was later called to help form the National Economic Development Council
in 1962, and once again in 1974 to serve on the Royal Commission on Income and Wealth.
in 1990, but was able to continue writing despite the resultant hemiplegia
. He died in December 1994.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
economist
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
.
Biography
Phelps Brown was born in CalneCalne
Calne is a town in Wiltshire, southwestern England. It is situated at the northwestern extremity of the North Wessex Downs hill range, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty....
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
and studied at The Taunton Academy
The Taunton Academy
The Taunton Academy is a school with academy status in Taunton, Somerset, England.The school was formed by the merger of The St Augustine of Canterbury School and Ladymead Community School. Its sponsors are Somerset County Council and the Diocese of Bath and Wells...
before attending Wadham College at Oxford University to study first history and then economics.
Career
Directly following completion of his undergraduate studies, Phelps Brown was named a Fellow of the New CollegeNew College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, where he taught economics from 1930 to 1947.
Phelps Brown joined the British Army at the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and served in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
. This followed a failed attempt to present himself for service in the Board of Trade
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
as an economic statistician. The chief statistician at that beginning of the war was attempting to reduce the work-force and was releasing statisticians for other war-related work, and by the time a new chief statistician was in place and looked to hire statisticians again, Phelps Brown was too embedded with his unit and chose not to leave them. At the end of the war, he was awarded the MBE.
Phelps Brown returned to Oxford after the war, but had lost seniority to those professors who had remained at home, so in 1947, he left Oxford to accept an appointment as Professor of the Economics of Labour at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
(LSE). During his tenure at LSE, Brown spent a year in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a Rockefeller Travelling Fellow
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
.
Phelps Brown remained at LSE until his retirment in 1968, at which time he returned to live in Oxford and spent the last 20 years of his life writing on various economic topics.
Phelps Brown is remembered as a careful and diligent teacher who prepared extensive notes for his student, and as a researcher who tied economics to social science to assess the impacts of economic theory on the lives of everyday peopele.
Public service
Phelps Brown was called upon by the British government on several occasions. In 1957, the MacmillanHarold Macmillan
Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC was Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 January 1957 to 18 October 1963....
government formed the Council on Prices, Productivity and Incomes to monitory wage/price fluctuations. Phelps Brown was called to serve on this council, and sought to use an incomes policy to reduce inflation without driving higher unemployment. He was later called to help form the National Economic Development Council
National Economic Development Council
The National Economic Development Council was a corporatist economic planning forum set up in the 1962 in the United Kingdom to bring together management, trades unions and government in an attempt to address Britain's relative economic decline. It was supported by the National Economic...
in 1962, and once again in 1974 to serve on the Royal Commission on Income and Wealth.
Writings
Phelps Brown wrote extensively on various topics in Economics and History, including textbooks and instructional aids as well as scholarly volumes and one novel based on his experiences in World War II.Partial bibliography
The folloing is only a sampling of Phelps Brown's many books and articles.Later life and death
Phelps Brown suffered a strokeStroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in 1990, but was able to continue writing despite the resultant hemiplegia
Hemiplegia
Hemiplegia /he.mə.pliː.dʒiə/ is total paralysis of the arm, leg, and trunk on the same side of the body. Hemiplegia is more severe than hemiparesis, wherein one half of the body has less marked weakness....
. He died in December 1994.