Erich Schneider

Director of the Kiel Institute

April 1961 – December 1968

* Dec. 14, 1900, † Dec. 5, 1970

After studying mathematics, physics and economics, Schneider earned his doctorate in Frankfurt am Main in 1922 and habilitated in Bonn in 1932 under Joseph Schumpeter. He then worked as a private lecturer and teacher. After being offered a professorship in Aarhus, Denmark, in 1936, he remained in Denmark until 1944, without becoming politically active during the German occupation.

In the summer of 1944, Schneider accepted a call to Kiel, where he served as director of the Staatswissenschaftliches Seminar from 1947 to 1961 and then, succeeding Fritz Baade, as director of the Kiel Institute until his retirement in 1968. As an outstanding teacher and theoretician, Erich Schneider left his mark on a whole generation of university teachers who, thanks to his worldwide university connections, were able to catch up with international theory standards. His four-volume Introduction to Economic Theory became a standard textbook, and also made a major contribution to the reception of Keynes' work in Germany.

His initiative led to the creation of the Bernhard Harms Prize, which is still awarded every two years to a personality who has distinguished him or herself through achievements in the field of global economic research or has made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of global economic relations through his or her work in economic practice.