Economic Research of an International Standing: Josef Steindl 1912-1993

WIFO's international reputation was established already in its earliest years, by celebrities such as Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich A. von Hayek and Oskar Morgenstern. In addition to celebrating the 85th anniversary of its foundation, WIFO is this year also commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of its most meritorious members, a scientist of international renown whose work was decisive in gaining this reputation: Josef Steindl. Josef Steindl joined the "Institut für Konjunkturfoschung" in 1935 directly after graduating from university. Due to his hostility to the Nazi regime he lost his job in 1938 and thus spent his "formative years" in Oxford in a group around Michal Kalecki. In 1950, he returned to Austria and his former job at WIFO. In spite of formally retiring in 1978 he stayed on as a consultant until his death in 1993. Josef Steindl was one of the most thoughtful and original thinkers. Though he stood firmly in the tradition auf Kalecki and Keynes he was a scientific personality of his own whose research attracted worldwide attention. He concentrated on the classical questions of the long-run developments of capitalism such as the role of monopolies and technological change as well as distribution and savings in the process of capital accumulation.