Hans Singer (1910-2006) joined the UN as an economist in 1947 and for 22 years played a pioneering role in the economic work of many parts and agencies of the UN, including UNICEF, the Department of Economic Affairs, WFP, UNRISD, ECA, and the African Development Bank. He was director of the Economic Division of the UNIDO (1967-69) after which he left the UN and joined the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex where he remained an honorary fellow until his death. His prolific output of publications covers almost all aspects of the UN, the international system, and development; but he is best known for his pioneering work on the Prebisch-Singer thesis. He was born in Germany and educated at the University of Bonn and Cambridge University. His biography, Sir Hans Singer: The Life and Work of a Development Economist is by John Shaw.

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