MacDOUGALL, (George) Donald (Alastair) 1912-2004

OBITUARY NOTICE—

See index for CA sketch: Born October 26, 1912, in Glasgow, Scotland; died March 22, 2004, in London, England. Economist, educator, and author. MacDougall played an important role as an advisor to his government from World War II through the 1970s. Educated at Balliol College, where he earned a master's degree in 1936, he was an assistant lecturer at the University of Leeds when he was selected to advise Winston Churchill on economic matters involving the war with Germany. Although still very young at the time, MacDougall was considered brilliant by many who credited him as an important factor in winning the war. For example, his calculations concerning supply shipping helped prevent Germany's efforts to starve England into a surrender. After the war, he was also instrumental in planning for the post-war reconstruction of Europe. MacDougall returned to academia as a fellow at Wadham College, Oxford, in the late-1940s and 1950s, also serving as first bursar from 1958 to 1964. He was back in government work in 1964, however, when he accepted a post as director-general of England's Department of Economic Affairs. During this time, his efforts focused on encouraging planned economic growth, including improving communication between government, businesses, and labor. From 1969 to 1973, MacDougall was an advisor to the Treasury, leaving government work to be chief economic advisor to the Confederation of British Industry until his retirement in 1984. A former officer in the Royal Economic Society, who was president from 1972 to 1974, the economist's service to his country did not go unrecognized, and he was knighted in 1953. He was the author of several books, including The Dollar Problem (1957), Studies in Political Economy (1975), and Don and Mandarin: Memoirs of an Economist (1987).

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Financial Times, March 24, 2004, p. 4.

Independent (London, England), March 23, 2004, p. 34.

Times (London, England), March 29, 2004, p. 26.