Vera C. Smith Lutz
Life and Work
- 1. Januar 1912
- 20. August 1976
in Zürich, Schweiz - Generation 5
Stations
- 1930–1935Studies at the London School of Economics
Studied economics at the London School of Economics (1930 to 1935) under Friedrich August von Hayek, Lionel Robbins, Theodore Gregory and John Hicks.[3]
- 1935Doctoral thesis under Hayek
A direct student of Friedrich August von Hayek; in May 1935 she submitted to the LSE her doctoral thesis „Free Banking, or, A Reconsideration of the Historical and Analytical Basis of Central Banking“ (published as „The Rationale of Central Banking and the Free Banking Alternative“), supervised by Hayek, which became the scholarly foundation of the later free-banking movement.[3]
- 1935–1937Research Stay in Freiburg
On Hayek's recommendation, a research stay in Freiburg im Breisgau to study the German monetary and banking system; there she met Friedrich A. Lutz, who was an assistant to Walter Eucken.[3]
- 1936„The Rationale of Central Banking“
Publication of her doctoral thesis as “The Rationale of Central Banking and the Free Banking Alternative” (1936) – the scholarly foundation of the later free-banking movement.[3]
- 1937Marriage to Friedrich A. Lutz
Married to the German economist Friedrich A. Lutz, with whom she moved to the United States.[3]
- 1938–1953Work in Princeton (International Financial Section, League of Nations)
From 1938 in Princeton with her husband: Friedrich Lutz as an instructor at Princeton University, Vera working in the International Financial Section and for the League of Nations, which had been evacuated to Princeton.[3]
- 1951“The Theory of Investment of the Firm” (with F. A. Lutz)
Together with Friedrich A. Lutz she published “The Theory of Investment of the Firm” (1951), influential for modern capital theory.[2]
- 1953Move to Switzerland
After their time in the United States, the Lutz couple moved to Switzerland; Friedrich A. Lutz was at ETH Zurich from 1953.[3]
- 1962“Italy, a Study in Economic Development”
Publication of “Italy, a Study in Economic Development”.[3]
- 1969“Central Planning for the Market Economy”
Publication of “Central Planning for the Market Economy: An Analysis of the French Theory and Experience”.
Influences
- 1930–1935
A direct student of Friedrich August von Hayek; in 1935 she submitted her dissertation “The Rationale of Central Banking and the Free Banking Alternative”, supervised by Hayek, at the LSE.[1]
- 1930–1935John Hicks(1904–1989) · Britische Neoklassik
Studied at the LSE from 1930 to 1935, also under John Hicks.[3]
- 1930–1935Lionel Robbins(1898–1984) · LSE
Studied at the LSE from 1930 to 1935, also under Lionel Robbins.[3]
- 1930–1935Theodore E. Gregory(1890–1970) · LSE
Studied at the LSE from 1930 to 1935, also under Theodore Gregory.[3]
- 1935–1937Walter Eucken(1891–1950) · Ordoliberalismus
On Hayek's recommendation, a research stay in Freiburg im Breisgau from 1935 to 1937 to study the German monetary and banking system; through her connection to the Freiburg School around Walter Eucken (doctoral advisor of her later husband Friedrich Lutz) her intellectual formation was broadened.[3]
- —Wilhelm Röpke(1899–1966) · Ordoliberalismus
Translated works of Wilhelm Röpke into English.
- 1937–1976Friedrich A. Lutz(1901–1975) · Wiener / Princeton
Married to the German economist Friedrich A. Lutz; together with him she wrote scholarly works, among them “The Theory of Investment of the Firm” (1951).[3]
- 1948–1976
Became a member of the society in 1948, one year after Hayek founded the Mont Pèlerin Society, together with her husband Friedrich A. Lutz; Friedrich Lutz was later twice president of the MPS.[3]
Vera C. Smith Lutz in the context of the School as a whole: five generations, their teacher-student lineages, circles and collegial ties.
Show in the family tree →SOURCES ON STATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS20 citations · 3 sources
- [1]HET: Vera C. Smith (Lutz) · 2×
- [2]Lutz & Lutz (1951): Theory of Investment of the Firm
Places of Activity
The Books
Essays, Reviews, Lectures
- APA
- Vera C. Smith Lutz. (n.d.). Edited by mises.at and scholarium. Accessed July 20, 2026, from https://mises.at/en/denker/vera-c-smith-lutz
- Chicago
- “Vera C. Smith Lutz.” n.d. Edited by mises.at and scholarium. Accessed July 20, 2026. https://mises.at/en/denker/vera-c-smith-lutz.
- German historical style
- Vera C. Smith Lutz, edited by mises.at and scholarium, https://mises.at/en/denker/vera-c-smith-lutz (accessed July 20, 2026).