Murray Lew Weidenbaum (February 10, 1927-March 20, 2014) was one of America's treasures. He dedicated himself to articulating and applying sound economic principles in both scholarly and governmental arenas and he did so with unmatched expertise, clarity, and grace.
A highly influential economist and adviser, Murray Weidenbaum founded the Center for the Study of American Business (CSAB) in 1975, along with former Chancellor of Washington University, William Danforth. Professor Weidenbaum served as the first chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Ronald Reagan and served under or advised five U.S. presidents. In his CSAB research and publications, he leaves a legacy of his work on regulatory, defense, tax, trade, and budget policy. More about Murray Weidenbaum.
The Murray Weidenbaum publications in this collection were published by CSAB (now the Weidenbaum Center) at Washington University in St. Louis. His unpublished papers are available through the University Archives.
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Reaganomics: Success and Failure
Murray L. Weidenbaum
January 1984
Contemporary Issues Series 8
Murray Weidenbaum evaluates Reaganomics two-and-a-half years after it was enacted and examines the effectiveness of these policy initiatives, showing that the results are mixed at best.
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Serving as An Outside Director
Murray L. Weidenbaum
May 1984
Contemporary Issues Series 11
Murray Weidenbaum shares his insights as an outside director of corporations and offers advice to new board members.
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The "Decline" of U.S. Manufacturing: Empirical Evidence and Policy Implications
Murray L. Weidenbaum and Michael J. Athey
May 1984
Working Paper 87
This paper focuses on output as a prime indicator of the economic performance of business firms. Decline in the labor force does not necessarily mean that overall productivity is declining as well, due to factors such as improved technology.
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The Revival of the Rust Belt
Murray L. Weidenbaum and Michael J. Athey
July 1984
Formal Publication 63
The author questions whether there really is a decline in low-tech industries, and shows a comparison in their growth alongside that of high-tech industries.
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The Way Out of the Budget Quandary: The Need for Spending Cuts
Murray L. Weidenbaum
January 1984
Contemporary Issues Series 9
The author recommends that systematic examination of proposed budget cuts needs to be done by Congress in order to make the necessary choices to achieve budget savings.
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An Economist in Government: Views of a Presidential Adviser
Murray L. Weidenbaum
May 1983
Contemporary Issues Series 5
This article is a reflection on Murray Weidenbaum’s time as Chairman of the President's Council of Economic Advisers in 1981-82. Weidenbaum discusses first developing and then later selling President Reagan's Economic Recovery Program and gives insight into the day-to-day routine of a CEA chairman.
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Confessions of a One-Armed Economist
Murray L. Weidenbaum
August 1983
Formal Publication 56
This report is an effort to answer questions involving many of the key economic issues facing the American people.
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Energy Development and Government Policy
Murray L. Weidenbaum
February 1983
Working Paper 76
The relationship between government policy and energy needs, especially the taxation and regulation of gasoline, is examined.
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Industrial Policy Rears Its Ugly Head
Murray L. Weidenbaum
May 1983
Occasional Paper 28
This paper discusses whether a new industrial policy is needed. Murray Weidenbaum points out that many government policies already in place have resulted in negative impacts on business.
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Is the U.N. Becoming a Global Nanny? The Case of Consumer Protection Guidelines
Murray L. Weidenbaum
June 1983
Contemporary Issues Series 6
This publication takes the position that the United Nations should not assume the role of a global nanny, intervening in matters which are essentially the jurisdiction of individual nations.
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Regulation and the Public Interest
Murray L. Weidenbaum
February 1983
Contemporary Issues Series 4
The increase in government regulation during the 1960s and 1970s is examined, as well as showing the importance of understanding the benefit/cost ratio of regulation.
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Regulatory Reform: A Report Card for the Reagan Administration
Murray L. Weidenbaum
November 1983
Formal Publication 59
Murray Weidenbaum evaluates how much regulatory reform has been accomplished in the Reagan Administration after two-and-three-quarter years.
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The Growth of the UN as a Regulator of Private Enterprise
Murray L. Weidenbaum
December 1983
Occasional Paper 33
Many UN agencies have become involved in establishing codes of conduct for multinational corporations that regulate many of their day-to-day functions. Instead of focusing on this issue, the UN should stick with its fundamental responsibility of peacekeeper.
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The Next Step in Regulatory Reform
Murray L. Weidenbaum
May 1983
Occasional Paper 29
Now that a fairly effective system for reviewing pending government rulemaking has been established in the Reagan Administration, it is time for the next step of reviewing and revising the substantive laws that govern the regulatory process.
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The Next Step in Regulatory Reform: Updating the Statutes, 1983 Report on Regulatory Budgets
Murray L. Weidenbaum and Ronald J. Penoyer
April 1983
Formal Publication 54
Regulatory reform is needed to reduce excessive costs, which in turn will help business as well as the consumer.
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The UN May Become a Global Nanny
Murray L. Weidenbaum
May 1983
Occasional Paper 30
The author's testimony before a Senator Foreign Relations committee takes the position that the United Nations should not assume the role of a global nanny. The UN goes beyond its role of international peacekeeper with its guidelines for product safety and consumer protection.
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The Way Out of the Budget Quandary
Murray L. Weidenbaum
December 1983
Occasional Paper 32
A systematic examination of proposed budget cuts is long overdue. Recommendations are made to reduce government spending by examining each department. A bipartisan approach is necessary to accomplish this.
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Toward a More Open Trade Policy
Murray L. Weidenbaum, Michael C. Munger, and Ronald J. Penoyer
January 1983
Formal Publication 53
Progress in achieving a healthier and more open trade system can only come from the recognition of the policy shortcomings of all sides. This study includes 8 proposals for breaking trade deadlock, with the U.S. taking the lead in a new approach to achieving freer world markets.
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Dealing with Deficits and the Rise in Federal Spending
Murray L. Weidenbaum
December 1982
Contemporary Issues Series 3
This piece examines how much should the federal budget be cut and where the major cuts should be.
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I'm All for Free Enterprise, But…
Murray L. Weidenbaum
November 1982
Whittemore House 7
Businesses and individuals are quick to support government cuts, but when the cuts affect their own industry, it's a different story. Weidenbaum stresses the importance of reducing the federal deficit, and budget cuts are essential to do this.
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Benefit-Cost Analysis of Government Regulation
Murray L. Weidenbaum
February 1981
Formal Publication 37
This piece explains why using benefit-cost analysis can help make regulation more efficient.
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A New Industrial Policy for the United States?
Murray L. Weidenbaum
June 1980
Whittemore House 3
Murray Weidenbaum discusses how government needs to provide positive conditions in order for the economy to expand.
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Costs of Regulation and Benefits of Reform
Murray L. Weidenbaum
November 1980
Formal Publication 35
This article describes many of the direct and indirect costs of government regulation.
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Public Policy and the Business Firm: Proceedings of a Conference
Murray L. Weidenbaum
December 1980
Formal Publication 36
Murray Weidenbaum shows the impacts of expanding regulation on business firms.
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Public Policy: No Longer a Spectator Sport for Business
Murray L. Weidenbaum
October 1980
Formal Publication 34
This piece shows the huge growth of federal regulation in the 1970s. In turn, business needs to become more involved in the public arena to improve business-government relations.