Deaton, Angus Stewart, 1945–, British-American economist, b. Edinburgh, Scotland, Ph.D Cambridge, 1974. He was a professor of econometrics at the Univ. of Bristol, England, from 1976 to 1983. In 1983 he became a professor at Princeton; he subsequently became a U.S. citizen. Deaton is noted for his skeptical examination of economic models and theories and for his emphasis on the rigorous collection and interpretation of data. In 1980 he and John Muellbauer wrote Economics and Consumer Behavior, which sought to provide a model for estimating the demand for goods and to answer questions concerning consumption; with modifications, it became a standard tool for economic study. Deaton subsequently has developed approaches to studying developing economies that seek to establish a truly empirical basis for understanding economic well-being and development through the use of reliable and detailed long-term data. He also has criticized the use of simplistic measures for determining the prevalence of poverty. In 2013 his Great Escape: Health, Wealth, and the Origins of Inequality he noted that although most people worldwide have seen improvements in health and well-being as a result of economic growth, many have not benefited. Deaton was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2015 for several aspects of his work involving consumption, poverty, and welfare.
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