MEMORANDUM

Schumpeter possibly would move to Harvard but the negotiations between Harvard and
Schumpeter were hardly finished at the time. Schumpeter had various concerns in
Germany which needed to be settled before he was ready to leave Europe for good. It is
likely that Schumpeter at this stage told Burbank that Leontief had talents that Harvard
needed and perhaps also that Schumpeter would much appreciate to have him as a
colleague if the outcome became that he moved to Harvard. Leontief added to Schumpeter
that if the rumors of Schumpeter’s transfer to Harvard were true, “then my plans would
fundamentally change … “. 192 Germany would then no longer be an option worth pursuing.
Leontief met Burbank at his second visit in December. Three weeks into 1932
Burbank wrote to Leontief in New York:
“There are a number of matters I had intended to discuss with you at the time of
your prospective visit to Cambridge, but I find that it may be advantageous to
consider some of them immediately.
Very frankly, we are much interested in the possibility of having you become
associated with us. I had expected that in March I could talk these matters over
with you leisurely and definitely, but I now find that it seems necessary to begin
abruptly and indefinitely.” (Burbank to Leontief, 21 January 1931).
Thus Burbank let out of the bag what Leontief had suspected for a while, namely that
the Harvard people were out to recruit him. This was good news, given the uncertainty of
employment prospects in Germany. But there was a contingency as the American
universities were also feeling the depression acutely:
“Harvard is affected less than most, but affected nevertheless. Exactly what we
shall be able to do during the forthcoming year is still a question and will remain so
for some weeks. In the meantime I wish very much to proceed with the attempt to
make arrangements if you are interested.” (Burbank to Leontief, 21 January 1932).
Burbank’s message was clear. He wanted to push on with the recruitment of Leontief
but the financial uncertainties caused by the depression constrained his room for maneuver.
Burbank continued by asking Leontief straight out whether he would care to become
associated with the economists of Harvard. If so, he should to send his cv to Burbank as
soon as possible. Burbank assured Leontief that Harvard was familiar with his work and
interest in economic theory. And he added a surprisingly specific question, namely
whether Leontief was sufficiently interested in International Trade to undertake instruction,
for graduates in that subject.
192 Leontief to Schumpeter, 15 December 1931, transl. by ob.
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