On Friday 18 April 2025, Professor Emeritus Jean Paelinck passed away at the age of 94. During the years 1969 to 1995, Jean Paelinck lectured on theoretical spatial economics at Erasmus School of Economics. With his passing, the academic community has lost an original thinker and beloved educator, whose contributions helped shape modern regional science and econometrics.
Born in Antwerp, Belgium, on July 4, 1930, Jean Henri Paul Paelinck received his Doctor of Law degree maxima cum laude from the University of Liège, followed by master’s degrees from the same institution. His academic journey took him to the University of Cambridge, where he studied under Nobel Laureate Richard Stone, setting the stage for a career marked by rigorous analysis, interdisciplinary insight, and boundless curiosity.
Professor Paelinck coined the term “spatial econometrics” in 1974, inaugurating a new discipline that has since become foundational to the studies of, and policies for urban and regional economic and social issues. His 1979 book Spatial Econometrics, co-authored with Leo Klaassen, remains a cornerstone in the field. Over the decades, he published more than 55 books and over 300 articles in leading journals, building a legacy as both a prolific scholar and a trailblazer.
His academic appointments spanned some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, including the University of Lille, University of Namur, Université Paris, Université catholique de Louvain, Erasmus School of Economics, and George Mason University in Virginia. Throughout, he distinguished himself not only as a researcher, but also as a gifted teacher and inspiring mentor.
Professor Paelinck served in advisory capacities to major international organisations including the United Nations, the European Economic Union, and the Commission for the European Economic Community. He received numerous honours for his work, among them seven honorary doctorates, the RSAI Founder’s Medal, and knighthood in the Order of the Netherlands Lion. The Regional Science Association International created the Jean Paelinck Award in his honor in 2014, recognising his foundational role in the discipline.
Beyond his academic achievements, Paelinck was a true Renaissance man—a humanist, a linguist fluent in over ten languages, and a musician who composed the official march for the Western Regional Science Association, but also composed the EUR march (for orchestra) which was performed in the anniversary year 1998. Famous were the social gatherings at his home in Kralingen, where he and his wife welcomed many foreign employees and students. He was known for his warmth, his wit and his deep appreciation for culture and community.
Our condolences go out to his family and loved ones.
