Summary
This article provides an overview of Tinbergen's economic writings, comprising well over 900 publications. Six broad areas have been distinguished to allow for the classification and discussion of Tinbergen's economic work. These six areas embody the change in Tinbergen's areas of interest apart from the shift from physics to economics early in his career. Tinbergen's work, however, is not only characterised by change of areas but also by continuity in approach. To mark this continuity four main characteristics of Tinbergen's work have been elaborated. The article concludes with Tinbergen's observations on the achievements to be expected from scientific research.
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References
Tinbergen, J. (1927), ‘Over de mathematies-statistiese methoden voor konjunktuuronderzoek’ (On the Mathematical-statistical Methods for Business-cycle Research),De Economist, 76, pp. 711–723 (in Dutch).
Tinbergen, J. (1928), ‘nl roulering in het werklozenleger’ (The Circulation Among the Unemployed),De Economist, 77, pp. 772–782 (in Dutch).
Tinbergen, J. (1929–1), ‘Het ekonomiese getij’ (The Economic Tide),De Socialistische Gids, XIV, pp. 849–858 (in Dutch).
Tinbergen, J. (1929–2),Minimumproblemen in de natuurkunde en de ekonomie (Minimum Problems in Physics and Economics), Amsterdam (in Dutch).
Tinbergen, J. (1930), ‘Het verband tusschen den aardappeloogst en den prijs en den uitvoer van aardappelmeel’ (The Relation between Potato Crop and the Price and Export of Potato Flour),De Nederlandsche Conjunctuur, 1, pp. 18–26 (in Dutch).
Tinbergen, J. (1931), ‘Ein Schiffbauzyklus?’ (A Cycle in Shipbuilding?),Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv, 34, pp. 152–164 (in German).
Tinbergen, J. (1932), ‘Prijsvorming op de aandeelenmarkt’ (Price Formation on the Stock Exchange),De Nederlandsche Conjunctuur, 4, pp. 12–23 (in Dutch).
Tinbergen, J. (1933),Statistiek en wiskunde in dienst van het konjunktuuronderzoek (The Use of Statistics and Mathematics in Business Cycle Research), Inaugural Lecture, Netherlands School of Economics, Rotterdam, October 4, 1933 (in Dutch).
Tinbergen, J. (1934), ‘De economische zijde van bet ordeningsvraagstuk’ (The Economic Side of the Planning Problem),Ordening, pp. 17–28 (in Dutch).
Tinbergen, J. (1936),An Economic Policy for 1936, ook opgenomen in: L.H. Klaassen, L.M. Koyck and H.J. Witteveen (eds.),Jan Tinbergen, Selected Papers', Amsterdam, 1959 pp. 37–84 (original in Dutch).
Tinbergen, J. (1939–1),Statistical Testing of Business Cycle Theories, I, A Method and Its Application to Investment Activity, League of Nations, Geneva.
Tinbergen, J. (1939–2),Statistical Testing of Business Cycle Theories, II, Business Cycles in the United States of America, 1919–1932, League of Nations, Geneva.
Tinbergen, J. (1940), ‘On a Method of Statistical Business Cycle Research. A Reply,’Economic Journal, L, pp. 141–154.
Tinbergen, J. (1942), ‘Zur Theorie der langfristigen Wirtschaftsentwicklung’ (On the Theory of Long-term Development),Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv, 55, pp. 511–549 (in German).
Tinbergen, J. (1944),De les van dertig jaar (The Lesson of Thirty Years), Amsterdam, (in Dutch). Tinbergen, J. (1945),International Economic Co-operation, Amsterdam.
Tinbergen, J. (1949), ‘The Equalisation of Factor Prices between Free-Trade Areas,’Metroeconomica, 1, pp. 39–47.
Tinbergen, J. (1950–1), ‘Wesen und Bedeutung der Oekonometrie’ (Nature and Importance of Econometrics),Zeitschrift für Oekonometrie, 1, pp. 5–13 (in German).
Tinbergen, J. (1950–2), ‘De Grenzen der Ordening’ (The Limits of Planning), in the series: Vraagstukken van heden en morgen (16), (Problems of Today and Tomorrow), Comité ter Bestudering van Ordeningsvraagstukken, Voorburg, The Netherlands, (in Dutch).
Tinbergen, J. (1951),Business Cycles in the United Kingdom, 1870–1914, Amsterdam.
Tinbergen, J. (1952–1),On the Theory of Economic Policy, Amsterdam.
Tinbergen, J. (1952–2), ‘Dirigisme et liberté dans le cadre de l'intégration économique de l'Europe’ (Planning and Freedom and Economic Integration in Europe),Anais do Instituto Superior de Ciências Económicas e Financeiras, Lisbon, 1952 (in French).
Tinbergen, J. (1954–1) (2nd ed. 1964),International Economic Integration, Amsterdam.
Tinbergen, J. (1954–2),Centralization and Decentralization in Economic Policy, Amsterdam.
Tinbergen, J. (1956–1), ‘The Optimum Rate of Savings,’Economic Journal, LXVI, pp. 603–609.
Tinbergen, J. (1956–2),Economic Policy: Principles and Design, Amsterdam.
Tinbergen, J. (1956–3), ‘On the Theory of Income Distribution,’Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv, 77, pp. 155–175.
Tinbergen, J. (1957–1), ‘The Appraisal of Road Construction: Two Calculation Schemes,’Review of Economics and Statistics, 39, pp. 241–249.
Tinbergen, J. (1957–2), ‘Customs Unions: Influence of their Size on their Effect,’Zeitschrift für die Gesamte Staatswissenschaft, 113, pp. 404–414.
Tinbergen, J. (1958)The Design of Development, World Bank, Baltimore, USA, 1958.
Tinbergen, J. (1959–1), ‘On the Theory of Trend Movements,’ in: L.H. Klaassen, L.M. Koyck and H.J. Witteveen (eds.),Jan Tinbergen: Selected Papers, Amsterdam, 1959, pp. 182–221.
Tinbergen, J. (1959–2), ‘The Theory of the Optimum Regime,’ in: L.H. Klaassen, L.M. Koyck and H.J. Witteveen (eds.),Jan Tinbergen: Selected Papers, Amsterdam, pp. 264–304.
Tinbergen, J. (1961–1), ‘The Spatial Dispersion of Production: A Hypothesis,’Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Volkswirtschaft and Statistik, 97, pp. 1–8.
Tinbergen, J. (1961–2), ‘Do Communist and Free Economies Show a Converging Pattern?,’Soviet Studies, XII, pp. 333–341.
Tinbergen, J. (1961–3) ‘Stuctures générales du problème de l'optimum du bien-être d'un groupe de nations’ (General Stuctures of the Problem of the Optimum Welfare in a Group of Countries), in:Les critères économiques de la division internationale du travail, (Economic Criteria for the International Division of Labour), Report to UNESCO, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, (in French).
Tinbergen, J. (1961–4), ‘De economische balans van het Deltaplan’ (The Economic Balance of the Delta Plan), in:Rapport Deltacommissie, Den Haag, 1961.
Tinbergen, J. (1962–1), ‘Planning in Stages,’Statskonomisk Tidsskrift, 1, pp. 1–20.
Tinbergen, J. et al. (1962–2),Shaping the World Economy: Suggestions for an International Economic Policy, New York, 1962.
Tinbergen, J. (1962–3), ‘Voorspellingen in politiek, economic en sociologie’ (Forecasts in Politics, Economics and Sociology),Nederlands Tijdschrift voor de Psychologie en haar Grensgebieden, XVII, pp. 193–197 (in Dutch).
Tinbergen, J. (1963), ‘De sociale verantwoordelijkheid van de economist’ (The Social Responsibility of the Economist),Universiteit en Hogeschool, 10, pp. 21–28 (in Dutch).
Tinbergen, J. and H.C. Bos (1965-l), ‘A Planning Model for the Educational Requirements of Economic Development’, in:Economic Models of Education OECD, Paris, pp. 9–31.
Tinbergen, J. (1965–2), ‘International, National, Regional and Local Industries,’ in: R.E. Caves, H.G. Johnson and P.B. Kenen (eds.)Trade, Growth, and the Balance of Payments, Essays in Honour of Gottfried Haberler, Amsterdam.
Tinbergen, J. (1965–3)De les van vijftig jaar, (The Lesson of Fifty Years), Amsterdam, (in Dutch).
Tinbergen, J. (1968–1),Development Planning, London.
Tinbergen, J. (1968–2), ‘The Optimal International Division of Labour,’Acta Oeconomica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, 3, pp. 257–282.
Tinbergen, J. (1968–3),Over de optimale internationale arbeidsverdeling (On the Optimal International Division of Labour), Speech for the Royal Academy of Sciences in The Netherlands, Amsterdam (in Dutch).
Tinbergen, J. (1968–4), ‘Similarities and Differences between the Social Problem and the Development Problem,’Mens en Maatschappij, pp. 120–127.
Tinbergen, J. (1969–1), ‘Ideology and Coexistence,’Review of International Affairs, XX, pp. 1–2.
Tinbergen, J. (1969–2), ‘The Use of Models: Experience and Prospects', Lecture in Memory of Alfred Nobel, December 12th, 1969, in:Les Prix Nobel en 1969, Stockholm, 1970, pp. 244–252.
Tinbergen, J. (1970–1), ‘A Positive and a Normative Theory of Income Distribution,’Review of Income and Wealth, 16.
Tinbergen, J. (1970–2), ‘Was spricht für die Konvergenztheorie?’ (What Speaks for the Convergence Theory?),Wirtschaftswoche der Volkswirtschaft, 23 December 1970 (in German).
Tinbergen, J. (1970–3), ‘Some Work Experiences,’ in: T. Dalenius, G. Karlsson and S. Malmquist (eds.),Scientists at Work, Festschrift in honour of Herman Wold, Uppsala.
Tinbergen, J. (1971), ‘Over meten in de menswetenschappen’ (On Measuring in the Human Sciences),Jaarboek Maatschappij der Nederlandse Letterkunde, 1970–1971, Leiden, pp. 11–26 (in Dutch).
Tinbergen, J. (1972–1), ‘Society Needs to Organize the Structures and Uses of Science,’Impact of Science on Society, XXII, pp. 289–297.
Tinbergen, J. (1972–2), ‘The Impact of Education on Income Distribution,’Review of Income and Wealth, 18, 3.
Tinbergen, J. (1972–3), ‘De convergentietheorie: antikritiek’ (The Convergence Theory: Anti-Criticism), in:Mens en Keuze (Man and Choice), Amsterdam pp. 1–11 (in Dutch).
Tinbergen, J. (1972–4), ‘Some Features of the Optimum Regime,’ in:Optimum Social Welfare and Productivity, The Charles C. Moskowitz Lectures, New York University, New York.
Tinbergen, J. (1973–l), ‘Labour with Different Types of Skills and Jobs as Production Factors,’De Economist, 121 pp. 213–224.
Tinbergen, J. (1973–2), ‘The Necessity of Quantitative Social Research,’Indian Journal of Statistics, Series B, 35.
Tinbergen, J. (1973–3), ‘Ragnar Frisch's Role In Econometrics: A Sketch,’mimeo.
Tinbergen, J. (1975),Income Distribution; Analysis and Policies, Amsterdam.
Tinbergen, J. (1979), ‘Recollections of Professional Experiences,’Banca Nazionale del Lavoro Quarterly Review, 131, pp. 331–360.
Tinbergen, J. (1982), ‘De noodzaak van een synthese’ (The Need for Synthesis),EconomischStatistische Berichten, 67, pp. 1284–1285 (in Dutch).
Tinbergen, J. (1983), ‘Enkele ervaringen’ (Some Experiences),Economisch-Statistische Berichten 68, p. 307.
Tinbergen, J. (1984), ‘Development Cooperation as a Learning Process,’ in: Gerald M. Meier and Dudley Seers (eds.),Pioneers in Development, New York pp. 315–331.
Tinbergen, J. (1985-l),Production, Income and Welfare, The Search for an Optimal Social Order, Brighton, UK.
Tinbergen, J. (1985–2), ‘Measurability of Utility (or Welfare),’De Economist, 133, pp. 411–114.
Tinbergen, J. (1987–1), ‘Measuring Welfare of Productive Consumers,’De Economist, 135, pp. 231–236.
Tinbergen, J. (1987–2),Revitalizing the United Nations System, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Santa Barbara, Ca.
Tinbergen, J. (1987–3) (with D. Fischer),Warfare and Welfare, Brighton.
Tinbergen, J. (1988), ‘The Role of Errors in Scientific Development,’Review of Social Economy, XLVI, pp. 225–230.
Tinbergen, J. (1989–1), ‘The Birth of New Disciplines and its Role in Teaching Science,’Universiteit en Hogeschool, 36, pp. 44–53.
Tinbergen, J. (1989–2), ‘How to Reduce Unemployment,’Review of Political Economy, 1, pp. l-6.
Tinbergen, J. (1990),World Security and Equity, Aldershot, UK.
Tinbergen, J. (1991–1), ‘The Velocity of Integration,’De Economist, 139, pp. 1–11.
Tinbergen, J. (1991–2), ‘The Functioning of Economic Research,’Journal of Economic Issues, XXV, pp. 33–38.
Tinbergen, J. (1991–3), ‘Solving the Most Urgent Problems First,’ in: Michael Szenberg (ed.),Eminent Economists; Their Life Philosophies, Cambridge, pp. 275–281.
Tinbergen, J. (1991–4), ‘On the Measurement of Welfare,’Journal of Econometrics, 50, pp, 7–13.
Tinbergen, J. (1991–5), ‘The Optimum Economic and Security Order,’ in: T.K. Kaul and J.K. Sengupta (eds.),Essays in Honor of Karl A. Fox, Amsterdam.
Tinbergen, J. (1992), ‘The Optimal Economic Order: The Simplest Model,’De Economist, 140, pp. 253–257.
Background Publications
Bos, H.C. (1970), ‘Tinbergen's Scientific Contribution to Development Planning,’De Economist, 118, pp. 141–154.
Bos, H.C. (1984), ‘Jan Tinbergen: A Profile,’Journal of Policy Modelling, 6, pp. 151–158.
Chakravarty, S. (1988), ‘Jan Tinbergen,’ in:The New Palgrave, A Dictionary of Economics, Macmillan, London.
Frisch, R. (1949),A Memorandum on Price-Wage-Tax-Subsidy Policies as Instruments in Maintaining Optimal Employment, UN Document, E/CN 1/Sub 2/13.
Haberler, G. von, (1936),Prosperity and Depression, A Theoretical Analysis of Cyclical Fluctuations, League of Nations, Geneva.
Hanau, A. (1928), ‘Die Prognose der Schweinepreise’ (Forecasting the Price of Pork), Vierteljahreshefte zur Konjunkturforschung, Sonderheft 18, Institut für Konjunkturforschung, Berlin, 1930.
Hansen, Bent (1969), ‘An Appraisal of His Contributions to Economics,’Swedish Journal of Economics, LXXI, pp. 325–336.
Hartog, F. (1970), ‘Tinbergen on Prices, Incomes and Welfare,’De Economist, 118, pp. 126–140.
Hartog, J. (1981),Personal Income Distribution, A Multicapability Theory, Boston.
Keynes, J.M. (1919),The Economic Consequences of the Peace, London.
Keynes, J.M. (1939), ‘Professor Tinbergen's Method,’Economic Journal, XLIX, pp. 558–568.
Keynes, J.M. (1940), ‘Comment,’Economic Journal, L, pp. 154–156.
Klaassen, L.H., L.M. Koyck and H.J. Witteveen (eds.) (1959),Jan Tinbergen: Selected Papers, Amsterdam.
Linnemann, H. (1966),An Econometric Analysis of International Trade Flows, Amsterdam.
Praag, B.M.S. van (1971), ‘The Welfare Function of Income in Belgium: An Empirical Investigation,’European Economic Review, 2.
Wolff, P. de (1970), ‘Tinbergen's Contribution to Business-cycle Theory and Policy,’De Economist, 118, pp. 113–125.
Wolff, P. de and J.T.J.M. van der Linden (1988), ‘Jan Tinbergen: A Quantitative Economist,’Review of Social Economy, XLVI, pp. 312–325.
Additional information
J. Kol is Associate Professor of International Economics and Economic Integration at the Faculty of Economics of the Erasmus University in Rotterdam; P. de Wolff is Emeritus Professor at the University of Amsterdam and was Director of the Central Planning Bureau in The Hague as successor of J. Tinbergen. The authors are grateful to Mrs. I.M. Lageweg and Mr C.J. van Opijnen for their assistance with references.
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Kol, J., de Wolff, P. Tinbergen's work: Change and continuity. De Economist 141, 1–28 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01144775
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01144775