Evan Durbin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Evan Durbin
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Durbin, c. 1930s
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| Born | 1 March 1906 |
| Died | 3 September 1948 (aged 42) Crackington Haven
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| Nationality | British |
| Institution | London School of Economics |
| Field | Macroeconomics |
| School or tradition |
Market socialism |
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Evan Frank Mottram Durbin (born March 1, 1906 – died September 3, 1948) was an important British economist and politician. He was a member of the Labour Party. Durbin believed in a mix of central economic planning and the use of market prices. This made his ideas unique for his time.
Historian David Kynaston called Durbin "the Labour Party's most interesting thinker" of the 1940s. Some even say he was the most interesting of the entire 20th century.
Contents
Evan Durbin's Early Life
Evan Durbin was born in 1906. His father was a Baptist minister. Evan went to several schools, including Heles School, Taunton School, and New College, Oxford.
At Oxford, he first studied zoology, which is the study of animals. Then he switched to PPE, which stands for Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. He became part of a group of bright young socialists.
How Durbin Met Hugh Gaitskell
Durbin became good friends with Hugh Gaitskell during the 1926 United Kingdom general strike. Gaitskell later became the leader of the Labour Party. During the strike, Durbin gave speeches to support the workers. Gaitskell helped him by driving him around Oxford.
In 1929, Durbin received a special scholarship to study economics. He went to University College, London. Gaitskell was already teaching there, and their friendship grew even stronger.
Evan Durbin's Career in Economics
In 1930, Evan Durbin started teaching economics at the London School of Economics (LSE). He taught there until 1940. He was a lecturer and then a senior lecturer.
Evan Durbin's Political Journey
Evan Durbin saw himself as a 'militant Moderate' in politics. He believed that capitalism, which is an economic system based on private ownership, needed slow changes. He thought these changes would help build a socialist system. Socialism focuses on community ownership and control.
Early Elections and Beliefs
In the 1931 election, Durbin ran for Parliament in East Grinstead but did not win. His friend Gaitskell spoke for him at a meeting. In the 1935 election, Durbin ran again in Gillingham, Kent. He famously said that keeping political democracy was more important than achieving socialism or peace.
Durbin's Role During World War II
In 1939, Durbin, along with Douglas Jay and Hugh Gaitskell, urged the Labour Party to support military conscription. This meant people would be required to join the military. They wanted a "conscription of wealth" in return, which was like a tax on wealth. However, the Labour Party did not support conscription at all at that time.
Once World War II began, Durbin worked for the government. He was part of the Economic Section of the War Cabinet Secretariat from 1940 to 1942. Other famous economists like Lionel Robbins and Harold Wilson also worked there. During this time, Durbin wrote a book called The Politics of Democratic Socialism. This book combined ideas from Keynesian economics (government involvement in the economy) and Fabianism (gradual social reform).
From 1942 to 1945, Durbin was a personal assistant to Clement Attlee. Attlee was the Deputy Prime Minister.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
Durbin was elected as a Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for Edmonton in the 1945 election. He was seen as a rising star in the party. He became the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Hugh Dalton from 1945 to 1947. Then, he started a ministerial career as Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Works from 1947 to 1948.
Evan Durbin's Tragic Death
On September 3, 1948, Evan Durbin sadly drowned. He was trying to rescue one of his daughters from the sea. This happened at Strangles Beach, near Bude, on the coast of Cornwall.
Evan Durbin's Lasting Influence
After Durbin's death, Hugh Gaitskell wrote about him in The Times newspaper. Gaitskell praised Durbin's clear goals and strong moral values. He said Durbin always used logic to solve problems. Durbin was also strongly against dictatorships like Stalin's.
Gaitskell wrote in his diary that he had "nobody else in my life whom I can consult on the most fundamental issues." This shows how much he valued Durbin's advice.
Even after his early death, Durbin's ideas continued to influence the Labour Party. His thinking especially shaped Gaitskell, who became party leader in 1955. He also influenced Anthony Crosland, another important Labour thinker.
Durbin's writings also inspired the founders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1981. For the SDP, Durbin's work showed how to fight against extreme views within the Labour Party.
Images for kids
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Durbin, around the 1930s
