Jock Robert Anderson (born 23 January 1941) is an Australian agricultural economist, specialising in agricultural development economics, risk and decision theory, and international rural development policy. Born in Monto, Queensland, he studied at the University of Queensland, attaining bachelor's and master's degrees in agricultural science. After graduation, Anderson joined the Faculty of Agricultural Economics at the University of New England. At New England, he focused on research in farm management, risk, and uncertainty and received a doctor of philosophy in economics in 1970. In 1977, Anderson co-authored a book, Agricultural Decision Analysis, which has served as an influential source on risk and decision analysis for agricultural economics researchers and the agricultural industry. From 1978 to 1979, Anderson was chief research economist at the Australian Bureau of Agricultural Economics, the first holder of that role. In 1991, he was appointed an emeritus professor at New England and departed to a full-time position as an agricultural economist and rural development policy advisor at the World Bank in Washington D.C. He retired from the World Bank in 2003. A prolific author and editor of papers and publications related to his field, Anderson has continued to write and consult in retirement. He was elected a fellow and/or presiding member of a number of professional agricultural, economic, and science organizations, including as a Distinguished Fellow in the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society. He was honored with a Doctor of the University by the University of New England in 2006 and Doctor of Agricultural Science by the University of Queensland in 2014.
Early life and education Anderson was born at Monto, Queensland, to parents Robert William and Nellie Frances Anderson on 23 January 1941. As a child he lived on and helped tend his family's beef, pig, wheat, and sorghum farm, called "Clifton Hills," in the Upper Burnett area of Queensland. Due to an absence of high schools in his rural area, for his postprimary education Anderson traveled to Brisbane to attend Brisbane Grammar School. He graduated in 1958 and was awarded an open scholarship to the University of Queensland. At the University of Queensland, Anderson majored in agricultural economics, with a focus in applied production. He received a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with First Class Honors in 1963. Continuing with postgraduate studies at the University of Queensland, Anderson received a Master of Agricultural Science in 1965. While working towards his masters, he was selected and worked as a research fellow for the university's department of agriculture, sponsored by Sir Edmund Marsden Tooth. At the same time, he served as a science tutor at the university's Emmanuel College campus.
Career
University of New England After receiving his master's degree, Anderson was employed as a research agronomist and applied production economist for ACF & Shirleys Fertilizers Ltd in Brisbane. He departed Brisbane one year later, in 1966, to join the faculty of the University of New England at its campus in Armidale, New South Wales. Anderson served as a research fellow under John L. Dillon, Foundation Chair of Farm Management, studying the pastoral-zone wool industry of Queensland and New South Wales. The two particularly focused on risk management, biometric, and econometric issues related to farm management. Under Dillon's guidance, Anderson received a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Economics in 1970. Anderson afterward became a lecturer in farm economic statistics until 1972, before becoming a senior lecturer between 1973 and 1974. In 1975 he was appointed as an associate professor, and in 1984 became a full-time professor (personal chair) in agricultural economics and business management, a position he held until 1991. In 1973, Anderson took a sabbatical as a visiting professor of agricultural economics at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, beginning his career-long work with agricultural development economics. At New England, Anderson specialized in risk and uncertainty, in particular Bayesian statistics, stochastic processes and efficiency analysis, and modern decision theory as applied to agricultural economics. Along with Dillon and J. Brian Hardaker, Anderson co-authored a 1977 book, Agricultural Decision Analysis, which served as an influential source on risk and decision analysis for agricultural economics researchers and the agricultural industry. The American Journal of Agricultural Economics described the expository text as "Something of a classic in the field, especially amongst graduate students of U.S. colleges." From 1978 to 1979, Anderson took a leave of absence to serve as deputy director and chief research economist for the Australian government's Bureau of Agricultural Economics (BAE) (later called Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics) in Canberra. With BAE, he managed a portfolio consisting of 200 economic researchers examining current issues and aspects of the agricultural industry. Upon his return to New England in 1980, Anderson was appointed dean of Faculty of Economic Studies, serving in the position until 1982. In 1981, New England awarded him a publications-based doctorate of economics. From 1986 through 1988 Anderson was head of the university's Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management. In 1991 the university designated him an emeritus professor of agricultural economics.
World Bank
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