Johan Witteveen

Johan Witteveen 1984 (1)

Johan Witteveen

Hendrikus Johannes "Johan" Witteveen (12 June 1921 – 23 April 2019) was a Dutch economist and politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). He served as Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 1973 to 1978.

Early life and education

Witteveen was born in Zeist, Netherlands. He was the son of architect Willem Gerrit Witteveen and Johanna Maria Witteveen-van der Meer. He studied economics at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, where he obtained his PhD in 1947 under the supervision of Jan Tinbergen, a future Nobel Prize laureate in Economics.

Academic career

After completing his doctorate, Witteveen became a professor of economics at the Erasmus University Rotterdam. He was known for his work in macroeconomics and public finance. His academic contributions were influential in shaping Dutch economic policy in the post-war period.

Political career

Witteveen entered politics as a member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). He served as a member of the House of Representatives from 1958 to 1963. He was appointed as Minister of Finance in the Cabinet Marijnen and later in the Cabinet Cals and Cabinet Zijlstra from 1963 to 1965 and from 1966 to 1967, respectively. During his tenure, he was instrumental in implementing policies that stabilized the Dutch economy.

International Monetary Fund

In 1973, Witteveen was appointed as the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He served in this capacity until 1978. His tenure at the IMF was marked by efforts to address the global economic challenges of the 1970s, including the oil crisis and the subsequent economic downturn. He introduced the Witteveen Facility, a temporary lending facility to assist countries facing balance of payments difficulties.

Later life and legacy

After leaving the IMF, Witteveen continued to be active in various international economic forums and organizations. He was a member of the Club of Rome and contributed to discussions on global economic and environmental issues. Witteveen was also a follower of Sufism and wrote several books on the subject.

Witteveen passed away on 23 April 2019 at the age of 97. He is remembered for his significant contributions to both Dutch and international economic policy.

Personal life

Witteveen was married to Liesbeth de Vries and had three children. He was the grandson of the prominent Dutch architect Willem Witteveen.

See also

• International Monetary Fund
• People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
• Erasmus University Rotterdam
• Jan Tinbergen