Ragnar A.K. Frisch, 1895-1973.

The Norwegian economist Ragnar Frisch, coined many of the terms we are now familiar with in economics, such as "macroeconomics" and "econometrics" (some terms, e.g. "polypoly", didn't really catch on). But, in substantial ways, he also helped create these fields. Frisch's second idiosyncratic claim to fame was his great reluctance to publish his work in accessible places - despite the great popularity and dissemination of his working papers and monographs. He was also one of the early pioneers of the Econometric Society and editor of its journal Econometrica.

Frisch's work on econometrics - particular on time series (1927) and linear regression analysis (e.g. 1934) was to be a fundamental contribution to the later Cowles approach to econometrics. His work on impulse-propagation business cycles, together with the work of Slutsky, was to prove the organizing principle behind much of modern New Classical real business cycle theory. He also contribued much to large decision models for government planning.

His 1926 paper on consumer theory (followed up by his 1932 book) set in motion the axiomatization of consumer theory - which was to be the hallmark of the Neo-Walrasian research programme. He extended his theoretical work in general equilibrium to applicable techniques of production analysis and pricing. (e.g. 1965, 1976)

Ragnar Frisch shared the first Nobel Prize in 1969.

• Information on Ragnar Frisch

• "Sur un Problem d'Economie Pure", 1926, Norsk Matematisk Forenings Skrifter (reprinted in Metroeconomica, 1957.)
• Analysis of Statistical Time Series, 1927 - unpublished
• "Changing Harmonics and Other General Types of Components in Empirical Series", 1928, Skandinavisk Aktuaritidskrift
• "Correlation and the Scatter of Statistical Variables", 1929, Nordic Statistical Journal
• "Statistical Correlation and the Theory of Cluster Types", with B.D. Mudgett, 1931, JASA
• New Methods of Measuring Marginal Utility, 1932.
• "Propagation and Impulse Problems in Dynamic Economics", 1933, in Economic Essays in Honor of Gustav Cassel.
• "Pitfalls in the Statistical Construction of Demand and Supply Curves", 1933, Veröffentlichungen der Frankfurter Gesellschaft fur Konjukturforschung
• "Monopoly, Polypoly: The concept of force in the economy", 1933, Nationalokonomisk Tidskrift (reprinted 1951, International Economic Papers).
• "Partial Time Regressions as Compared with Individual Trends", with F.V. Waugh, 1933, Econometrica
• Statistical Confluence Analysis by Means of Complete Regression Systems, 1934.
• "More Pitfalls in Demand and Supply Curve Analysis", 1934, QJE
• "The Characteristic Solutions of a Mixed Difference and Differential Equation Occurring in Economic Dynamics", with H. Holme, 1935, Econometrica
• "Note on the Term "Econometrics"", 1936, Econometrica,
• "Statistical versus Theoretical Relations in Economic Macrodynamics", League of Nations - memorandum.
• "A Note on Error in Time Series", 1939, QJE
• Theory of Production, 1965.
• Economic Planning Studies, 1976.

• Autob iography of Frisch.
• Press release of Nobel award (1969).
• Oslo webpage.