Data Resources

Data Resources Inc or DRI was co-founded in 1969 by Donald Marron and Otto Eckstein. Marron is best known as the former CEO of PaineWebber and founder of Lightyear Capital. Eckstein was a Harvard University economics professor, economic consultant to Lyndon Baines Johnson and member of the Council of Economic Advisors; he is best known for the development of the theory of core inflation. [1] [2]

Data Resources
IndustryEconometric models, research, analysis
HeadquartersLexington, Massachusetts, United States
Key people
Donald Marron and Otto Eckstein

DRI became the largest non-governmental distributor of economic data in the world.[3] The company also built the largest macroeconometric model of its era. Allen Sinai was a leading architect. Richard Hokenson did much of the maintenance work. [4]

DRI was a major customer of Burroughs Computer. During the 1970s era of rapid expansion, DRI used the Burroughs 6700 and 7700 mainframes.[5][6] DRI also developed innovative software, including the PRIMA and AID database languages; EPL Econometric Programming Language; MODSIM for solving models; and MODEL for solving econometric models in particular. Later the functionality of all these programs was merged into the EPS Econometric Programming System by the chief architect of all this software, Robert P. Lacey. Other programmers in this effort included John Ahlstrom, Greg George, and Joe Polak. [7][8]

The DRI Review was published monthly and summarized what the models said for the economic outlook. This information was presented in outlook conferences. DRI also held educational seminars.[9]

General corporate timeline
  • 1979: Eckstein and Marron sold DRI to McGraw-Hill for over $100 million [10] Joseph Kasputys was named president in 1981.[11]
  • 1984: After Eckstein's death, DRI was slow to adopt new technology. DRI was wed to mainframe computers when the industry was moving this kind of analytic work to personal computers.[12]
  • 1987: Wharton Econometric Forecasting Associates (WEFA) merged with Chase Econometrics, a competitor to DRI and WEFA.[13]
  • 2001: DRI merged with WEFA to form Global Insight.[14][15]
  • 2008: Global Insight was bought by IHS Inc., thus inheriting 50 years of experience and more than 200 full-time economists, country risk analysts, and consultants.[16]

References
  1. "Johnson Conversation with Otto Eckstein on May 04, 1964 (WH6405.02)—Presidential Recordings Program—Miller Center". Archived from the original on 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
  2. https://www.nber.org/chapters/c10018.pdf
  3. Arenson, Karen W. (23 March 1984). "Otto Ecktein, Educator Who Led in Economic Forecasting". The New York Times.
  4. "Richard Hokenson Home Page". Archived from the original on 2010-07-26. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  5. "Burroughs B6700 - retroComputingTasmania".
  6. Burroughs large systems
  7. Kraemer, Kenneth L. (24 September 1987). Datawars: The Politics of Modeling in Federal Policymaking. ISBN 9780231519168.
  8. Kenneth Kraemer, Datawars: The Politics of Modeling in Federal Policymaking. https://www.amazon.com/Datawars-Politics-Modeling-Federal-Policymaking/dp/0231062044
  9. Arenson, Karen W. (23 March 1984). "Otto Ecktein, Educator Who Led in Economic Forecasting". The New York Times.
  10. "McGraw Hill Inc. Plans to Buy Company Run by Otto Eckstein; Data Resources Stock Jumps | News | The Harvard Crimson".
  11. Sloane, Leonard (22 June 1981). "Business People; SHIFT AT DATA RESOURCES". The New York Times.
  12. Wayne, Leslie (16 December 1984). "Dismantling the Innovative D.r.i." The New York Times.
  13. Gilpin, Kenneth N. (2 April 1987). "2 Forecasting Firms to Merge". The New York Times.
  14. "DRI-WEFA's Macroeconomic Models - ICCF".
  15. Wharton Econometric Forecasting Associates
  16. "To make better decisions, you need to see the big picture".
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