Home / Authors / Robert Solow Biography

Robert Solow Biography

Economist

Robert Solow, born on August 23, 1924, is an esteemed American economist known for his significant contributions to economic growth theory, particularly in the relationship between technological progress and economic growth.

Shows Growth Computer Statistics Economist

Author:Robert Solow

“Suppose someone sits down where you are sitting right now and announces to me that he is Napoleon Bonaparte. The last thing I want to do with him is to get involved in a technical discussion of cavalry tactics at the Battle of Austerlitz. If I do that, I'm getting tacitly drawn into the game that he is Napoleon Bonaparte.”

Ifs Want Lasts Games Involved Right Now Battle Sitting Discussion Where You Are Economist Tactics Get Involved Cavalry Bonaparte

Author:Robert Solow

“I remember once reading that it is still not understood how the giraffe manages to pump an adequate blood supply all the way up to its head; but it is hard to imagine that anyone would conclude tht giraffes do not have long necks. At least not anyone who had ever been to a zoo”

Way Long Stills Hard Remember Reading Imagine Blood Understood Manage Necks Imagine That Economist Adequate Zoos Pumps Giraffe

Author:Robert Solow

“There is not some glorious theoretical synthesis of capitalism that you can write down in a book and follow. You have to grope your way”

Way Writing Book Ignorance Capitalism Economics Glorious Theoretical Synthesis

Author:Robert Solow

“It is a good idea to be ambitious, to have goals, to want to be good at what you do, but it is a terrible mistake to let drive and ambition get in the way of treating people with kindness and decency. The point is not that they will then be nice to you. It is that you will feel better about yourself.”

“But part of the job of economics is weeding out errors. That is much harder than making them, but also more fun.”

Jobs Fun Economics Harder Errors Weed

Author:Robert Solow

“Why does a public discussion of economic policy so often show the abysmal ignorance of the participants?”

Doe Shows Economic Policy Ignorance Economics Discussion Participants Economic Policy

Author:Robert Solow

“Everything reminds Milton of the money supply. Well, everything reminds me of sex, but I keep it out of the paper.”

Trying Sex Paper Economics Economist Papers Milton

Author:Robert Solow

“The world can, in effect, get along without natural resources, so exhaustion is just an event, not a catastrophe.”

World Natural Effects Events Resources Catastrophe Exhaustion Natural Resources

Author:Robert Solow

“You can see the computer age everywhere but in the productivity statistics.”

Age Computer Productivity Statistics

Author:Robert Solow

“The fact that there is no such thing as a perfect anti-sepsis does not mean that one might as well do brain surgery in a sewer.”

Wells Mean Doe Facts Might Perfect Brain Surgery Sewers Brain Surgery

Author:Robert Solow

“The user of land should not be allowed to acquire rights of indefinite duration for single payments. For efficiency, for adequate revenue and for justice, every user of land should be required to make an annual payment to the local government equal to the current rental value of the land that he or she prevents others from using.”

Should Government Values Justice Rights Land Equal Currents Locals Acquire Users Efficiency Revenue Adequate Payment Duration Annuals Local Government

Author:Robert Solow

“If God had meant there to be more than two factors of production, He would have made it easier for us to draw three-dimension al diagrams.”

Ifs Made Two Three Easier Draws Productions Factors Made It Dimensions Als Diagrams Three Dimensions Factors Of Production

Author:Robert Solow

About the Author

Born: August 23, 1924
Known for: Economist
Quotes: 13

Books & Sources

Similar Authors

Joan RobinsonBrowse related quotes
Sir Henry Roy Forbes HarrodBrowse related quotes
Al NicholBrowse related quotes
Dennis Holme RobertsonBrowse related quotes
G. L. S. ShackleBrowse related quotes
George StiglerBrowse related quotes
Robert Lucas, Jr.Browse related quotes
Steve KeenBrowse related quotes
Ronald CoaseBrowse related quotes
Edgar FiedlerBrowse related quotes

Robert Solow Biography

Related Quotes