The Chicago School of Economics in Argentina

Last summer, a group of Argentine economists who graduated from the University of Chicago met at the Universidad del CEMA to hear Juan Carlos de Pablo, a well-known economist, present his paper "The Chicago School of Economics in Argentina." "If Roy Forbes Harrod was able to write a remarkable biography of John Maynard Keynes without belonging to the 'circus' that surrounded the latter," said de Pablo, "and not even be in Cambridge but Oxford, this writer, who never set a foot at the University of Chicago and studied at Harvard, can attempt an analysis of the role that the Chicago school played in Argentina." The seminar was held in the Chicago workshop tradition; the speaker had only a few minutes to introduce the topic before discussion began, said participant Julio Elías, AM'01, PhD'05. Those present at the meeting: Jorge Avila, AM'81, PhD'86, Enrique Blasco Garma, AM'67, Miguel Ángel Broda, AM'70, Graciela Inés Cairoli, AM'82, Dabós Marcelo, Julio Elías, AM'01, PhD'05, Roque B. Fernández, AM'73, PhD'75, Valeriano Garcia, AM'65, PhD'73, Pablo Guidotti, AM'84, PhD'85, Jorge Medina, Ricardo Lopez Murphy, AM'80, Alberto Musalem, AM'65, PhD '71, Carola Pessino, AM'86, PhD'89, Pedro Pou, PhD'78, Luis Ramirez Rojas Cesar, Lucio Reca, AM'62, PhD'67, Alejandro Rodriguez, PhD'06, Carlos A. Rodríguez, PhD'73, Edgardo Zablotsky, AM'86, PhD'92, and Roberto Zorgno, AM'85. Alberto Boix, MBA'83, current president of the Alumni Club of Chicago in Argentina, also participated in the event.   Agustín Carstens, AM'83, PhD'85 (Economics), accepted a Bravo Business Award from Latin Trade magazine. Carstens, governor of the Bank of Mexico, received the accolade following his candidacy for director-general of the International Monetary Fund. Although Carstens's bid was unsuccessful, his "candidacy won positive exposure for a country beset by drug-war violence in certain regions, but one that has emerged as an unlikely standard-bearer of macroeconomic prudence," wrote David Agren in October's edition of Latin Trade. Sara Hume, AM'07 (History), curated an exhibition called On the Home Front: Civil War Fashions and Domestic Life at Kent State University Museum. Katherine Turk, AM'07, PhD'11 (History), received the Lerner-Scott Prize for her dissertation "Equality on Trial: Women and Work in the Age of Title VII." The Lerner-Scott Prize is awarded annually by the Organization of American Historians for the best doctoral dissertation in US women's history. The prize is named for Gerda Lerner and Anne Firor Scott, pioneers in women's history and past presidents of the Organization of American Historians. Leonard Ritt, AB'59, AM'63 (Political Science), published an article, "The Curious-Looking Curio: American Indian Beaded Watch Pouches with Fobs," in the winter 2011 issue of American Indian Art Magazine. Ritt was a political science professor at Northern Arizona University for 31 years, but in retirement has focused on research projects in native art. The article discusses beaded watch pouches, an artifact that has no counterpart in Native American culture, detailing their history, use, materials, and design. Justin Yifu Lin, PhD'86 (Economics), chief economist and senior vice president of the World Bank, debuted Demystifying the Chinese Economy (Cambridge University Press, 2011). Lin draws on economic analysis and personal reflection on policy debates to investigate Chinese economic development. He provides a historical context and theoretical framework for understanding the dramatic economic transitions China continues to undergo. Jeffrey Stauch, AM'06 (MAPSS), authored Effective Frontline Fundraising: A Guide for Nonprofits, Political Candidates, and Advocacy Groups (Apress, 2011). The book is a step-by-step guide to effective and sustainable philanthropic fundraising. Stauch is a leadership gifts officer at Middlebury College. Gertrude Himmelfarb, AM'44, PhD'50 (History), published The People of the Book: Philosemitism in England, from Cromwell to Churchill (Encounter Books, 2011). This social history presents a growing respect for Judaism in England, challenging the convention of defining Jewish history primarily through anti-Semitism. Himmelfarb, who is also known as Bea Kristol, is professor emeritus at the Graduate School of the City University of New York. Robert A. LeVine, AB'51, AM'53 (Anthropology), and Sarah LeVine, AM'66 (Social Service Administration), published Literacy and Mothering: How Women's Schooling Changes the Lives of the World's Children (Oxford University Press, 2011) with Beatrice Schnell-Anzola, Meredith L. Rowe, and Emily Dexter. The book is the culmination of a decades-long study LeVine et al. conducted on the impact of maternal schooling and literacy on mothering in developing countries. Robert A. LeVine is the Roy E. Larsen Professor of Education and Human Development, Emeritus, at Harvard University and directed the Project on Maternal Schooling that informs the book. Sarah LeVine, an anthropologist who has conducted research on four continents, coordinated the fieldwork of the Project on Maternal Schooling. Michael Perman, PhD'69 (History), published The Southern Political Tradition (Louisiana State University Press, 2012). Perman is a history and humanities professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The Southern Political Tradition investigates the distinctive political practices and behaviors of the American South, tracing them to the South's perception of itself as a minority under attack from the 1820s to the 1960s.