Galbraith, John Kenneth

(born Oct. 15, 1908, Iona Station, Ont., Can.—died April 29, 2006, Cambridge, Mass., U.S.) Canadian-born U.S. economist and public servant. After studying at the Universities of Toronto and California (Ph.D., 1934), he held important government posts during the New Deal and World War II. As a professor at Harvard University (1949–75), he was active in public affairs, serving as an adviser to Pres. John F. Kennedy and as ambassador to India (1961–63). His influential liberal writings, often praised for their literary merit and popular appeal, examined the strengths and weaknesses of U.S. capitalism and consumerism. The Affluent Society (1958), a critique of the wealth gap, called for less emphasis on production and more attention to public services, and The New Industrial State (1967) traced similarities between “managerial” capitalism and socialism.

Find more information on Galbraith, John Kenneth. Upgrade to Britannica Online for more on Galbraith, John Kenneth.