William Hoban Branson, John Dulles Professor in International Affairs, Emeritus; Professor of Economics and International Affairs, Emeritus, died on on August 15 at age 68. A Princeton faculty member since 1966, Bill specialized in international economics and finance, macroeconomics and economic development. He was granted emeritus status in 2000.

Bill was a pioneer in the field of international economics, focusing his research especially on foreign exchange markets and the macroeconomic problems facing developing and transition economies. With Dale Henderson, he developed the “portfolio balance” approach to exchange rate determination, an approach that emphasizes changes in the relative supplies of assets denominated in different currencies as a fundamental cause of exchange rate movements. He held a variety of policy positions over the course of his career, serving on the senior staff of the U.S. Council of Economic Advisers and as deputy director of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Project Interfutures. Bill was also a long-time consultant to the World Bank and other international institutions, where he lent sage advice on macroeconomic policy and financial structure to many developing countries. Many students will remember him for his widely used textbook, Macroeconomic Theory and Policy. Colleagues will remember his broad interests in international economics and his fine leadership of the International Studies group at the National Bureau of Economic Research, a role that he capably filled for 15 years.

Bill received his BS from the United States Naval Academy in 1959 and, after five years in the navy, received his MA from University of California, Berkeley in 1964 and PhD from MIT in 1967.

A memorial service will be held at the University in the fall.