MEMORANDUM

something at Wagemann’s Institut für Konjunkturforschung. Schumpeter, still convinced
that Leontief’s future ought to be in Germany. He was worried that if Leontief left
Germany it would be even more difficult to arrange the habilitation. On the other hand, if
Leontief insisted that he couldn’t find anything in Germany, Schumpeter would primarily
recommend USA. In view of Leontief’s stated preference for England, Schumpeter would
put out feelers, hoping to receive responses before he left for Japan, as he after that would
be out of reach until the end of April 1931. He promised to let Leontief know if he heard
anything. 127
Schumpeter also offered advice regarding Henry Schultz’s sharp attack on the Versuch
treatise: “The attack of professor Schultz does not hit at the essentials. However, in your
place I would respond, calmly and politely.” Then he added another piece of advice he also
would reiterate later: “How about an English paper, I would be happy to help to get it
published.” 128
Leontief was Schumpeter’s soothing advice and realized he had overreacted. He
responded to Schumpeter’s letter on 10 December 1930 that he had for a while been aware
that if he had to leave Germany, it might become extraordinarily difficult to return. But he
was worried, he felt he could not risk to be without a position. With regard to the criticism
from Henry Schultz, he informed Schumpeter that Eugen Altschul had indeed contacted
him earlier in the autumn with a proposal that Leontief responded to the Schultz criticism
and had it issued in the Frankfurter series edited by Altschul. Leontief had liked the idea
and aired it with the Institute leadership, only to be told that the Institute would exercise its
right to prevent “independent” publications by its scientific staff. Leontief thought he
might at least be allowed to issue a short note in English but put it aside for the time
being. 129
Ezekiel’s intervention
In November 1930 Mordecai Ezekiel turned up at the Kiel Institute. Ezekiel, born
1899, was an experienced agricultural economist who had worked for the US Department
of Agriculture since 1922. His Ph.D. was from the Brookings Graduate School of
Economics and Government in 1926. In 1930, Ezekiel published a brick of a book,
Methods of Correlation Analysis (Ezekiel 1930), which soon became a standard reference
volume on statistical methods. In that same year he began work as Assistant Chief
127 Schumpeter to Leontief, 28 November 1930. The only “feeler” put out in was to Theodore
Gregory at London University, formerly at LSE. Gregory, a member of the Macmillan committee,
did not respond.
128 Schumpeter to Leontief, 28 November 1930. The only “feeler” put out in England seems to have
been to Theodore Gregory at London University, formerly at LSE. Gregory was also a member of
the Macmillan committee at the time, but did not respond.
129 Leontief to Schumpeter, 10 December 1930.
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