E. F. Schumacher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
E. F. Schumacher
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Photograph of Schumacher from the cover of Small Is Beautiful, 1973
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| Born |
Ernst Friedrich Schumacher
16 August 1911 |
| Died | 4 September 1977 (aged 66) Switzerland
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| Education | University of Oxford Columbia University |
| Occupation | Economist |
Ernst Friedrich Schumacher (born August 16, 1911 – died September 4, 1977) was a German-British thinker. He was an economist, which means he studied how countries manage their money and resources. He is most famous for his ideas about "human-scale" and "appropriate technologies." These are ways of doing things that are right for people and the environment, often using simpler tools and local resources.
Schumacher worked as a top economic advisor for the British National Coal Board from 1950 to 1970. This was a very large organization that managed coal mining. In 1966, he started a group called the Intermediate Technology Development Group. Today, this group is known as Practical Action and helps people in developing countries.
His 1973 book, Small Is Beautiful: A Study of Economics As If People Mattered, became very famous. It was even named one of the most important books published after World War II. In this book, he suggested that we should think about people and the planet, not just making more money. He also wrote A Guide for the Perplexed in 1977. This book explored how we understand knowledge and criticized the idea that only science can explain everything.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ernst Friedrich Schumacher was born in Bonn, Germany, in 1911. His father was a professor who taught about how countries manage their money. Ernst studied in Germany, then went to England in 1930 as a special student called a Rhodes Scholar. He also studied at Columbia University in New York City. After his studies, he worked in different jobs, including business, farming, and writing for newspapers.
Schumacher's Economic Ideas
Working with John Maynard Keynes
Before World War II began, Schumacher moved back to England. He did not want to live under the Nazi government in Germany. During the war, he was held on a farm because he was from an enemy country. While there, he wrote an important paper about how countries could trade better.
This paper caught the attention of John Maynard Keynes, a very famous British economist. Keynes saw how smart Schumacher was and helped him get released. Schumacher then helped the British government with their economic plans during the war. Keynes even found him a job at Oxford University.
Advising the Coal Board
After the war, Schumacher helped rebuild the German economy. From 1950 to 1970, he became the main economic advisor for the National Coal Board in Britain. This was one of the biggest companies in the world at the time.
Schumacher believed that coal, not oil, should be the main energy source. He worried that oil would run out because it's a limited resource. He also saw that the cheapest oil was in unstable parts of the world. Many people believe his smart planning helped Britain's economy recover after the war. He even predicted the rise of OPEC, a group of oil-producing countries.
New Ways of Thinking
In 1955, Schumacher visited Burma as an economic expert. There, he developed ideas he called "Buddhist economics." This idea suggests that people need meaningful work to grow and be happy. He also believed that making things locally, using local resources, was the best way for an economy to work.
He traveled to many developing countries, encouraging them to build economies that could rely on themselves. Schumacher's experiences led him to champion "appropriate technology." This means using technology that is simple, easy to use, and good for the environment. It should also fit the needs of a community. In 1966, he started the Intermediate Technology Development Group (now Practical Action) to help with this. His ideas are often summed up as "intermediate technology" or "intermediate size."
Schumacher was greatly inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, a leader from India. He saw Gandhi as a great "people's economist" whose ideas connected money with spiritual well-being.
His Influence on Others
Schumacher's ideas were shaped by many thinkers, including Mahatma Gandhi and Gautama Buddha. His solutions to economic problems continue to influence many groups today. These include the E. F. Schumacher Society and Practical Action.
Schumacher as a Writer
Schumacher wrote about economics for important newspapers like London's The Times and The Economist. He also wrote for Resurgence magazine. He advised governments in India, Zambia, and Burma. His time in Burma led to his famous essay, "Buddhist Economics."
His 1973 book, Small Is Beautiful: A Study of Economics As If People Mattered, made his ideas known to many more people. A main point in this book is that we can't solve problems by using up all our natural resources. We need to think about future generations. Schumacher's work became popular as people started to care more about the environment. He became a hero for many in the environmental movement.
In 1976, he received an award for Small Is Beautiful. His 1977 book, A Guide for the Perplexed, explored how we understand knowledge and criticized the idea that only material things matter.
Later Life and Beliefs
When he was young, Schumacher did not believe in God. But later in life, he became very interested in religion. He studied Buddhism and was deeply influenced by Catholicism starting in the late 1950s. He saw how his economic ideas matched the teachings of the Catholic Church about social issues. He also found wisdom in Christian mysticism. In 1971, he officially became a Catholic.
In his later years, Schumacher gave many interviews and wrote articles for a wide audience. He also enjoyed gardening, which was one of his favorite hobbies. He passed away from a heart attack on September 4, 1977, while traveling in Switzerland.
Schumacher's Legacy
Schumacher's books and papers are kept at the Schumacher Center for a New Economics in Massachusetts, USA. This center continues his work by providing a library, organizing talks, publishing papers, and helping groups build strong local economies.
The Schumacher Circle
The Schumacher Circle is a group of organizations that were started to honor E. F. Schumacher or were inspired by his work. These groups work together to support each other. They include the Schumacher College in England, Resurgence Magazine, Practical Action, the New Economics Foundation, the Schumacher Center for a New Economics, the Soil Association, and the Centre for Alternative Technology.
