History
The history of our foundation is rooted in the legacy of Frans de Vries and Jan Tinbergen. Their shared vision and intellectual partnership became the inspiration for establishing our foundation in 1954. What started as a collegial exchange grew into a lasting friendship and a commitment to using economics for the public good. Read about their legacies below.
Curious about the friendship between Frans de Vries and Jan Tinbergen? Read the full story on their bond in this article: Foundation and Friendship.
Professor Frans de Vries
François (Frans) de Vries (1884–1958) was an influential Dutch economist and academic. Since the 1930s, he majorly contributed to the development of socioeconomic policy in the Netherlands.
1884
Early Life and Education
Frans de Vries was born on May 2, 1884, in Groningen. The French heritage on his mother’s side earned him the name François. His father ran a local business in men's fashion. De Vries was raised Protestant and remained a member of the CHU until 1946. He went on to study jurisprudence in Amsterdam, both at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) and Universiteit van Amsterdam (UVA). In 1910, De Vries earned his doctorate in law at the University of Groningen (RUG).
1913
Academic Career
De Vries began his career as a lawyer but soon transitioned into academia. In 1913, he was appointed as one of the first lecturers at the Nederlandsche Handels-Hoogeschool (later Erasmus University Rotterdam). Five years later he was promoted to professor. De Vries taught economics, entrepreneurship, and business. After several successful years in Rotterdam, he served as rector magnificus on three occasions (1921–1922, 1928–1929, and 1935–1936). At the time, he was one of the few institutional economists working on market structures. In 1945, De Vries joined the University of Amsterdam. He would teach there until his academic retirement in 1954.
1931
Policy and Public Service
Beyond academia, De Vries played an influential role in shaping Dutch socioeconomic policy. In 1931, he joined the predecessor of what would later become the Sociaal-Economische Raad (SER). This is the Dutch economic advisory council to the Cabinet. As the first chairman of the SER, his socioeconomic ideas proved highly influential. De Vries was known for his straightforward and self-aware thinking. He held the position of chairman until his passing in 1958.
1953
Legacy
De Vries was a remarkable economist and a highly respected professor. Around 70 of his former students would go on to become professors at universities around the world. In recognition of his contributions, De Vries received an honorary doctorate from Tilburg University in 1953. Upon his retirement in 1954, the Prof. F. de Vries Foundation was established. The foundation continues the tradition of promoting innovative socioeconomic research. His scholarly works, including De ontwikkeling der theoretische economie (1918) and De taak der theoretische economie (1946), remain referenced in economic literature. Frans de Vries passed away on June 15, 1958, in Amsterdam. He was laid to rest at Westerveld Cemetery.
Jan Tinbergen
Jan Tinbergen (1903–1994) is one of the most influential economists of the twentieth century and the founding father of econometrics. He has made significant contributions to the economic field. These include developing the first macroeconomic models, understanding dynamic models, and solving the identification problem. He was awarded the first Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 1969, the kickstart to our foundation.
1903
Early Life and Education
Tinbergen was born in The Hague on April 12, 1903. He grew up in a successful academic family, with his brother Nikolaas also winning a Nobel Prize. Tinbergen went on to study mathematics and physics at the University of Leiden. He earned his doctorate there in 1929, with a thesis focused on economic cycles. Here he first combined his interests in mathematics, physics, economics and politics.
1929
Innovations in Econometrics
In 1929, Tinbergen began working at the Dutch statistical office where he started applying statistical methods to economic questions. In the early 1930s, he was invited by the League of Nations to develop statistical models for analysing business cycles. During this time, he created one of the first large-scale econometric models. His approach was groundbreaking, as it used mathematics and statistics to create a cohesive economic system. Different parts of the economy, such as investment, employment or consumption could now be linked into one system.
1933
Academic Career and Policymaking
Tinbergen was appointed professor of statistics at the University of Amsterdam in 1933. Later in 1936, he took up a professorship at the Nederlandsche Handels-Hoogeschool (later Erasmus University Rotterdam). Here he continued to refine his economic models with growing recognition for his work. His research laid the foundations for modern econometrics and remains central to how economists analyse data today. Tinbergen’s work did not stay confined to academia. His macroeconomic models were used by governments worldwide. Organisations like the United Nations adopted his models for economic planning. Tinbergen’s models showed how economic policies could be used to promote growth, control inflation, and reduce unemployment.
1969
Legacy
In 1969, Tinbergen and Ragnar Frisch were awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. This was for their pioneering work in econometrics and macroeconomic theory. Tinbergen’s work continues to influence both academic research and policymaking. His innovative use of econometric models laid the groundwork for modern econometrics. Tinbergen passed away on June 9, 1994, but his legacy remains. His work not only changed the way we understand economies but also provided the tools we need to improve them.
Foundation and Friendship
Amice. Derived from the Latin word Amicus, meaning ‘friend’. It is the standard salutation in the letters between Jan Tinbergen and Frans de Vries. The Tinbergen Archives are filled with conversations between the two. Their contact started as early as the 1930s. All subjects were covered, from discussing economics to obtaining advice, and joining each other for dinners. In this article, the pathway from colleagues, to friendship, to foundation will be uncovered.