Cowles Commission for Research in Economics

American research group

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June 25, 2026

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The Cowles Commission for Research in Economics was an American research group founded in 1932. It was initially established to advance the use of mathematical methods in economics. The commission moved to the University of Chicago in 1944 and later relocated to Yale University in 1955.

Economist Tjalling C. Koopmans, a Nobel laureate, was associated with the Cowles Commission. He developed a method called activity analysis for efficiently allocating resources to achieve economic goals at the lowest cost. This technique was applied to various economic problems. The commission's work significantly influenced the development of quantitative methods in economic research.12

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Tjalling C. Koopmans
In 1944 Koopmans joined the Cowles Commission for Research in Economics at the University of Chicago, where he extended his technique to a wide variety of economic problems. When the commission was relocated to Yale University in 1955, Koopmans moved with it, becoming professor of economics at Yale. He wrote…
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In 1944 Koopmans joined the Cowles Commission for Research in Economics at the University of Chicago, where he extended his technique to a wide variety of economic problems. When the commission was relocated to Yale University in 1955, Koopmans moved with it, becoming professor of economics at Yale. He wrote…
Read More