Angus Maddison
Angus Maddison was born on the 6th of December 1926 in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. He attended Darlington Grammar School before entering Selwyn College at Cambridge University as an undergraduate student. His academic path took him to McGill University and Johns Hopkins University for graduate studies. He chose not to pursue a PhD immediately and returned to the United Kingdom to teach at the University of St. Andrews for one year. This early period established the foundation for his future work in economic history.
In 1953, Angus Maddison joined the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC). He rose through the ranks to become Head of the OEEC Economics Division. The organization transformed into the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1963. Maddison then served as Assistant Director of the Economic Development Department within this new body. Between 1966 and 1971, he took a leave of absence from these roles. During the following fifteen years, he held various consulting appointments while returning to the OECD for four additional years.
The University of Groningen appointed Angus Maddison as Historical Professor in the Faculty of Economics in 1978. He retired from this position in 1996 and became Emeritus Professor. Despite retiring, he maintained strong connections with the university throughout his life. He lived in Chevincourt near Thourotte in France until his death on the 24th of April 2010. At the American Hospital of Paris in Neuilly-sur-Seine, he passed away at age 83. His work there helped establish the Groningen Growth and Development Centre as a key research group.
Maddison published an authoritative study on economic growth in China over the past twenty centuries. This work strongly boosted historical debates about the strengths and weaknesses of Europe and China. Before the 18th century, India and China were the two largest economies by GDP output according to his estimates. His figures regarding per capita income in the Roman Empire followed pioneering work by Keith Hopkins and Raymond W. Goldsmith. The publication Chinese Economic Performance in the Long Run
appeared in 2007 covering the period from 960 to 2030 AD.
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Common questions
When was Angus Maddison born and where did he grow up?
Angus Maddison was born on the 6th of December 1926 in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. He attended Darlington Grammar School before entering Selwyn College at Cambridge University as an undergraduate student.
What major organizations did Angus Maddison work for during his career?
Angus Maddison joined the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) in 1953 and later served within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). He also held a position as Historical Professor in the Faculty of Economics at the University of Groningen from 1978 until his retirement in 1996.
Where did Angus Maddison live when he died and what was his age?
Angus Maddison lived in Chevincourt near Thourotte in France until his death on the 24th of April 2010. He passed away at age 83 at the American Hospital of Paris in Neuilly-sur-Seine.
Which book by Angus Maddison covers economic performance in China over two millennia?
The publication Chinese Economic Performance in the Long Run appeared in 2007 covering the period from 960 to 2030 AD. This study provided authoritative data on economic growth in China over the past twenty centuries.