Charles F. Roos | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | January 6, 1958 | (aged 56)
Nationality | American |
Academic career | |
Field | Mathematical economics |
Alma mater | Rice University |
Doctoral advisor | Griffith C. Evans |
Doctoral students | Helen Calkins |
Charles Frederick Roos (May 18, 1901 – January 6, 1958) was an American economist who made contributions to mathematical economics.[1] He was one of the founders of the Econometric Society together with American economist Irving Fisher and Norwegian economist Ragnar Frisch in 1930. He served as secretary-treasurer during the first year of the society and was elected as president in 1948.[2] He was director of research of the Cowles Commission from September 1934 to January 1937.[3]
Roos earned a PhD in mathematics from Rice University in 1926, under supervision of Griffith C. Evans.[1] He was amongst the first, together with Evans and mathematician Frank P. Ramsey, to use the calculus of variations in mathematical economics.[4] His direct involvement with two key institutions in economic history, both the Econometric Society and the Cowles Commission, place him in a pivotal position in the mathematization of economics in the first half of the 20th century.[1] His own work, however, would not be so influential. Mathematical economics and econometrics eventually favored technical and epistemological approaches that were different from his own.[5][6][7]