William R. Allen ’48

Author and professor William R. Allen ’48, who hosted the nationally syndicated Midnight Economist radio series from 1978 to 1992, died Jan. 15, 2021. 

William Allen '48In his radio series Allen educated a broad general audience for 14 years with essays emphasizing applications of analytics to public policy issues. He taught economics to generations of students at the University of California-Los Angeles, beginning in 1952, and contributed to the field by authoring, co-authoring, and editing nine books and publishing widely in professional journals.

Allen provided leadership as president of the Western Economic Association and the International Institute for Economic Research. He received teaching awards from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, the Western Economic Association, and the UCLA Alumni Association. His research was supported by grants from the Ford Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the Earhart Foundation.

He also was a consultant to the Balance of Payments Division of the Department of Commerce and a director of the Yardney Corporation. Allen held a doctoral degree from Duke University.

Cornell College recognized his achievements in 2003 with a Leadership and Service Award.