Robert Fogel American economist Date of Birth: 01.07.1926 Country: USA

Biography of Robert Fogel

Robert William Fogel was an American economist and economic historian, best known as one of the founders of cliometrics - the application of mathematical methods in history. He was born in New York City to a Russian Jewish family from Odessa. Fogel's interest in economics and social issues was sparked by the conversations of his older brother and his friends, who frequently discussed the social and economic aspects of the Great Depression.

Fogel attended Cornell University, where he focused on history and economics. During his time as a student, he became involved with the local communist organization, the American Youth for Democracy. After graduating in 1948, Fogel continued to collaborate with communists for several years until he concluded that communist ideas lacked a solid scientific foundation. He then pursued further education at Columbia University, where he earned a master's degree in economics in 1960 and a Ph.D. in economics in 1963 from Johns Hopkins University.

In 1960, Fogel became an assistant professor at the University of Rochester and later moved to the University of Chicago in 1964. He continued to work at the University of Rochester as a visiting professor during the fall semesters. During this period, Fogel completed several significant works and mentored many notable economists and researchers. In 1975, he joined Harvard University and, in 1978, the National Bureau of Economic Research in Cambridge. In 1981, Fogel returned to the University of Chicago as a member of the research center at the business school.

Fogel's research covered a wide range of topics, often tangentially related to economics. He explored demography, physiology, family dynamics, nutrition, China's economic development, and scientific philosophy, among other fields. His extensive knowledge in various scientific areas allowed him to draw unconventional conclusions by applying ideas from one discipline to another. Deirdre McCloskey, one of Fogel's colleagues, noted that he "reunited history with economics."

In addition to his research, Fogel was a highly regarded educator who mentored many prominent experts in economic history. He married Enid Cassandra Morgan, an African American woman, in 1949, and they had two children together. Their interracial marriage faced challenges due to existing laws and societal attitudes towards mixed marriages.

Robert Fogel passed away on June 11, 2013, after a brief illness, at Oak Lawn Hospital in Illinois.