Jean Henri Paul Paelinck, a pioneer in the field of spatial econometrics and one of the most influential regional scientists of his generation, passed away on April 18 at the age of 94. The Distinguished Service Professor’s contributions to the discipline of regional science, an interdisciplinary field focusing on spatial dimensions of economic, social and environmental factors, were vast and transformative, and his connection to the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University marked a notable chapter in a truly global academic career.
Born on July 4, 1930, in Antwerp, Belgium, Paelinck studied at the University of Liège, earning a doctor of law degree maxima cum laude in 1953, followed by additional master’s degrees. His intellectual trajectory soon shifted to economics, culminating in advanced studies at the University of Cambridge (1958–59) under the guidance of Richard Stone, later a Nobel Laureate.
Paelinck’s international academic career included professorships and research positions in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands, most prominently at Erasmus University Rotterdam, where he served from 1969 to 1995 as professor of theoretical spatial economics. It was during this period that he coined the term “spatial econometrics” in a 1974 address to the Dutch Statistical Association—an innovation that opened new avenues for analyzing the spatial dimensions of economic phenomena.
Among his landmark works is Spatial Econometrics (1979), co-written with Leo Klaassen, which became a foundational text in the field. His collaboration with Peter Nijkamp led to Operational Theory and Method in Regional Economics (1975), while later in life, his partnership with Dan Griffith yielded Non-standard Spatial Statistics and Spatial Econometrics (2011), reflecting his enduring drive to innovate within econometrics.
Paelinck’s impact extended deeply into the Schar School community, where he served as a visiting professor and active collaborator during the later stages of his career. At the Schar School, he found a stimulating intellectual home, working closely with esteemed colleagues such as the late Roger Stough and Kingsley Haynes, founders of what is now the Schar School.
His presence enriched the school’s research environment and inspired a generation of students and faculty alike with his rigorous interdisciplinary methodology and global perspective on policy-relevant spatial economics.
Over the course of his life, Paelinck authored more than 55 books and more than 300 scholarly articles. His work forged important links between international trade modeling and regional development theories, including the influential “Tinbergen-Bos models” that bridged the thinking of Nobel Laureate Jan Tinbergen with that of spatial economist August Lösch.
Beyond academia, Paelinck served in advisory capacities for institutions including the United Nations and the European Union. His distinguished service earned him numerous accolades: seven honorary doctorates, the Regional Science Assocation International (RSAI) Founder’s Medal, and a knighthood in the Order of the Netherlands Lion. In recognition of his enduring influence, the Regional Science Association International established the Jean Paelinck Award in 2014 to honor innovative contributions in quantitative regional science.
His work at the Schar School stands as a testament to his belief in the power of regional science to inform real-world policy and improve societal outcomes through evidence-based spatial analysis.