1921-

American economist and 1972 Nobel Prize recipient with John Hicks for his groundbreaking work in general equilibrium theory that examines the relationship between the processes of production, distribution, and consumption in the economy. Using modern mathematical methods, he has expanded his theoretical and mathematical models to social concerns such as medical care, education, and racial discrimination. He received his masters degree in mathematics (1941) and Ph.D. in economics (1951) from Columbia University. He later taught at Harvard University.