Ragnar Frisch

Ragnar Anton Kittil Frisch was born on March 3, 1895, in Oslo, Norway. He would go on to become one of the most notable economists of his time, pioneering econometric research and being instrumental in establishing economics as a rigorous empirical science. Frisch’s work laid down the foundations for the specialized field of econometrics.

In 1926, Ragnar Frisch received his Doctorate degree in Mathematical Statistics from the University of Oslo. This academic achievement marked an important milestone in Frisch’s career, setting him on a path to develop groundbreaking economic theories and methodologies. His doctoral work highlighted his dedication to applying mathematical rigor in economic analysis.

Ragnar Frisch published the paper that is considered foundational in the establishment of the field of econometrics, a field that combines economic theory, mathematics, and statistical inference to address economic issues quantitatively. He was among the first to advance the application of statistical methods to the study of economics, which has had lasting impacts on the discipline.

In 1933, Ragnar Frisch played a critical role in the organization of the first international congress focused on the statistical association, which eventually led to the creation of the Econometric Society. His leadership and vision drove the establishment of econometrics as a significant discipline within economics, securing his status as a leader in theoretical and applied statistics in economic research.

Ragnar Frisch was appointed chair of economics and statistics at the University of Oslo in 1936. This position allowed him to influence the next generation of economists through both his teaching and his research programs, further spreading his innovative ideas in economic modeling and quantitative analysis. He also developed numerous courses that integrated statistical methods with economic theory.

Ragnar Frisch became the Editor of Econometrica, the journal of the Econometric Society, in 1937. As editor, he pushed for the publication of rigorously peer-reviewed papers that advanced both the theory and applied methodology of econometrics. His leadership helped establish Econometrica as one of the premier journals in economic studies, fostering new research that tackled various economic problems.

Ragnar Frisch developed, along with his colleagues, the Frisch-Waugh-Lovell theorem in 1938. This theorem is a fundamental result in econometrics concerning the estimation of coefficients in a linear regression model. It is an essential tool for understanding the implications of econometric models and continues to be a crucial element in econometric research and instruction.

Ragnar Frisch published his statistical theory of economic cycles in 1939, which provided a new understanding of business cycle phenomena by introducing mathematical modeling into the study of economic dynamics. His work emphasized the importance of stochastic models in capturing rigidities and fluctuations in economic activities, making substantial contributions to macroeconomic theory.

Ragnar Frisch was awarded the first Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1969, shared with Jan Tinbergen, for their development and application of dynamic models for the analysis of economic processes. This award recognized their pioneering efforts in econometrics, which fundamentally transformed economic research and policy analysis, solidifying their legacy in economic science.

Ragnar Frisch passed away on January 31, 1973, in Oslo, Norway, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in the field of economics and econometrics. During his lifetime, he advanced the mathematical rigor in economics and laid the foundation for the econometric methods used today. His contributions continue to influence economic research and teaching across the world.