Canberra, Monday 6 May 2002

Distinguished economist H.W. Arndt dies

Eminent economist Emeritus Professor Heinz Arndt, 87, died this morning in a single car accident on the campus of the ANU. He had worked as Professor of Economics at the ANU from 1950 to 1980. "Heinz Arndt was one of the most influential economists in Australia over the past several decades," said Professor Ian Chubb, Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University. "He was one of the first to recognise the importance to Australia of the Asia-Pacific region and made enormous contributions to development economics. His death is a great loss to the University as well as to Australia and the region."

"Heinz Arndt was a key proponent in fostering Australia's research on the Asia-Pacific region," said Professor James Fox, Director of the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies. "He established the world's leading journal on the Indonesian economy, the Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies. Many of his former students attained distinction. They include Stephen Grenville, who has recently retired as Deputy Governor of the Australian Reserve Bank, Peter McCawley, formerly Deputy Director-General of AusAID and now of the ANU; Peter Drake, who recently retired as the Vice-Chancellor of the Australian Catholic University; Anne Booth, Malcolm Treadgold and Howard Dick, all of whom are Professors of Economics; and Ross Garnaut, who after spells as economic adviser to the government of PNG and to Bob Hawke, and as Australian Ambassador to China, joined the ANU. In retirement he remained as productive as he was in his long career. He will be sorely missed by his colleagues and students."

"Professor Arndt was one of the most well-known of the group of outstanding Australian economists who made important contributions to national public policy in the post-war period," said Dr Peter McCawley. McCawley, now Visiting Fellow at the National Centre for Development Studies and a former Deputy Director-General of AusAID, was one of Arndt's first PhD students on Indonesian Affairs.

Arndt was born in Germany in 1915. He gained his undergraduate degree and Masters at Lincoln College, Oxford. Arndt worked variously at the London School of Economics (1938-1941) and at Manchester University (1943-46) before settling in Australia in 1946. In 1950 he took up the newly created chair in Economics at the Canberra University College. In 1963, he became head of the Department of Economics at the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies of the Australian National University, where he was to remain until his retirement in 1980. Arndt remained an extremely active member of the University community. At the time of his death he held a Visiting Fellowship at the National Centre for Development Studies at the ANU, editing the Asian-Pacific Economic Literature series.

Professor Ross Garnaut, Professor of Economics at the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, said he was deeply saddened to hear of Professor Arndt's death. "He contributed more than any other Australian to the development of the economics profession in this country for over half a century: through his guidance to young economists; as the leader of early research and teaching on money and banking; as the founder of Australia's strength in economic research on Southeast Asia; and as the profession's most active editor and eclectic author," said Garnaut. "Heinz extended the great tradition of Australian economists who have judged their own work by its contribution to policy and society. He will be greatly missed by the many people who have continued to benefit from Heinz's concern for others, his clear mind, and civilised perspectives on the whole of humanity."

Heinz Arndt is survived by three children, Bettina, Christopher and Nicholas. Nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. His wife, Ruth, died in Canberra in 2001. His daughter, Bettina, is a member of the Council of the Australian National University and is a widely-known commentator on social issues.

For further information please contact:
Professor Ross Garnaut, ANU Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies (02) 6282 3739 or (02) 6125 3100; Professor James Fox, Director Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies (02) 6125 2221; Dr Peter McCawley, Asia Pacific School of Economics and Management (02) 6125 6562 or 0439 951 506; Professor Hal Hill, Indonesia Project, Economics Division, RSPAS/APSEM (02) 6125 0395; Peggy Daroesman, Director ANU Marketing and Public Affairs (02) 6125 6125

No 55/2002

© 2000 Marketing & Communications Division,
The Australian National University.
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Last Modified Tue, July 16, 2002