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Alexander Van der BellenAustrian economist and politician
Date of Birth: 18.01.1944
Country:  Austria |
Content:
Biography of Alexander Van der Bellen
Austrian economist and politician, Alexander Van der Bellen was born on January 18, 1944, in Vienna and spent his childhood in Tyrol. In 1917, Van der Bellen's family left Russia and settled in Estonia, but after Estonia was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940-1941, Alexander's father fled to Austria with his future wife. They spent some time in a German refugee camp before settling in Vienna. When Soviet troops approached Vienna, the family fled again and found refuge in Tyrol.
In 1962, Van der Bellen graduated from the Academic Gymnasium in Innsbruck. He then studied economics at the University of Innsbruck and completed his doctorate in 1970. From 1968 to 1970, Alexander Van der Bellen worked as an assistant at the Institute for Finance at the University of Innsbruck, and from 1972 to 1974, he worked at the International Institute for Management and Administration in Berlin.
In 1976, Van der Bellen was appointed a professor at the University of Innsbruck. He later moved to Vienna, where he taught as a professor of economics at the University of Vienna from 1977 to 1980, and then became the head of the economics department. From 1990 to 1994, he served as the dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Economics.
A former member of the Austrian Social Democratic Party, Van der Bellen became a member of the National Council of Austria representing the Austrian Green Party in 1994. Starting from 1997, he served as their federal representative and became the chairman of the Green parliamentary club in the National Council in 1999. He resigned after the September 2008 elections, in which the Greens lost for the first time in a decade.
Interestingly, Van der Bellen always had much higher approval ratings than the political party he represented. Austrians appreciated his restrained and reasonable behavior even during heated debates, his honesty, and of course, his extensive knowledge in economics. Van der Bellen is married and has two adult sons. He is a passionate fan of Scrooge McDuck comics and a heavy smoker who openly admits his love for tobacco.
In May 2004, Van der Bellen was awarded the Medal of Honor "For Services to the Austrian Republic" with a golden star.
Scientific Interests
Professor Van der Bellen's scientific interests lie in the areas of planning and financing procedures in the public sector, infrastructure financing, taxation, government expenditure, regulatory government policies, state enterprises, as well as environmental and transport policies.
