Mihály Simai on his 95th birthday
Mihály Simai was born on 4 April 1930 in Budapest. He is a Széchenyi Prize-winning Hungarian economist, university professor and full member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He is a distinguished researcher in world economics, including the transformation of economic structures.
He was Deputy Director of the World Economic Research Institute from 1974 and its director from 1988 to 1991. He was appointed Research Professor in 1991 and served as Director-General of the Institute for World Economic Development at the United Nations University from 1992 to 1995. He continues to contribute to the scientific and economic development of Hungary as an active researcher.
His colleagues greeted him with personal messages on his birthday:
Dear Miska!
Anniversaries are multiplying, and we are very happy about it! So we would like to congratulate you on your birthday – even if it’s not face-to-face.
I have thought a lot about what I could say, but I think the most important thing that is linked to your person and your name, beyond the founding of the Institute, is the way in which the Institute operates, the way it is conceived, the version of the research career that you represent. This is something that many people are struggling with these days, a lot. I think that in our country this was already established 50 years ago, and since then, despite all the changes, these traditions have lived on. The research career that you developed and dreamt up at that time is still working today!
- Miklós Szanyi, Scientific Advisor
Dear Misi bácsi!
Even though I am no longer a young researcher, I would like to say a few words on behalf of them, if only because I also met Misi bácsi as a young researcher at this institute. So, I would like to talk about our experience. The gist of it is that we are very grateful for all the help we received at the beginning of our careers. For the attention we have received from you. Which in itself is fantastic, how you were so aware of who was doing what, what new research avenues were possible, and in doing so you set many of us on our way.
Thank you for your support, and on behalf of the young researchers, I wish you all the best!
- Ágnes Szunomár, Senior Research Fellow
Dear Director!
On behalf of the Institute, I would like to thank you for your work so far, for your administration and, in fact, for everything you have given us.
On my own behalf, I would also like to share some personal experiences, namely that the openness that I have experienced with you and the knowledge that I have gained in two areas in particular, have played a very important role in my research career. One was foreign direct investment, and the other was the analysis of the US economy. These were very influential in my subsequent choice of topics. I can only reiterate that this attitude, openness, knowledge, familiarity with key theoretical and practical policies has helped me a lot. So, on behalf of the Institute and myself, I would like to wish you a very happy birthday!
- Magdolna Sass, Director
Happy birthday!
Watch the video of the well wishes here.
