Search

The collection is comprised of correspondence, manuscripts, teaching materials, conference materials, subject files, and printed items from William S. Vickrey's career as an economist. It contains published and unpublished papers illustrating his thoughts on various aspects of economic theory and their practical application. Topics discussed in these manuscripts involve macroeconomics, marginal cost pricing, microeconomics, political economy and welfare, public finance, social choice, taxation, transportation, urban economics, and related matters. The collection also has records from his tenure at Columbia University, including correspondence with his academic colleagues and participation in professional activities.

This collections contants the administrative papers from 1950 to 1970s, which document the establishment of the Assembly and how it operated in the framework of Columbia University and its Business School. It also includes the volumes created for each Assembly topic and meeting year. The volumes contain both original manuscript material (e.g., correspondence, memos, reports, photographs, programs, etc.) related to the planning and execution of each meeting as well as published reports and publications generated for the meeting. Topics addressed by the Assembly over the years include: US Foreign Policy, Outer Space, Nuclear/Atom Power, International Relations, Collapse of the USSR, Arms Control, US Economy, Domestic policy issues (health insurance, labor, black economic development), Religion and American Life, Social Issues, Arts and Public Policy, Environmental issues, Politics, Tax System, Financial Systems, World Migration and US Policy. The collection also includes The Assembly's publications and a participant index.

This collection contains the materials collected and used in the preparation of the report "Strategies of renewal: report of the Presidential Commission on the Future of the University," 1987.