Retired economics faculty member Tom Finn passes away

Thomas J. (Tom) Finn, professor emeritus of economics, died in suburban Detroit, on June 6, 2013 at the age of 85. A graduate of Boston College, with a PhD from Harvard University, Tom came to Wayne State in 1963 from Dartmouth College. He was promoted to Professor of Economics in 1970 and he retired in 1995.

Tom started his career specializing in microeconomic theory and published articles in such venues as the American Economic Review (1967), and the Journal of Political Economy (1971). He gradually switched his focus to macroeconomics, and his last article, "The Feasibility of the Projected Federal Debt," published in 1990 in the Public Finance Review attracted considerable attention from members of the U.S. Congress. Tom enjoyed responding to requests from Washington regarding the importance of his analyses for formulating economic policy.

Tom is survived by his wife Ellen, five children and seven grandchildren. We will all miss his deep voice and his good sense of humor.