Aleksander Konstanty Ivánka (1904-1975)

Abstract

The article reflects on the life and career of the late Hungarian-Polish economist and journalist Aleksander Konstanty Ivánka (1904-1975), with a special focus on his work during the period between the two world wars. A search at the Central Archives of Modern Records (AAN) in Warsaw and the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH) Archives, combined with an analysis of historic publications and material, enabled the author to retrace the course of Ivánka’s professional career, his work as an economist and journalist as well as his socioeconomic views. Ivánka was a Pole of Hungarian origin who graduated from the Warsaw School of Economics and went to work as a senior official at the Ministry of the Treasury. He also worked at the Central Statistical Office (GUS) and was one of the closest collaborators of former Warsaw Mayor Stefan Starzyński. In 1931, together with a group of associates, Ivánka founded Gospodarka Narodowa, a weekly in which he published many of his articles. He was also a member of the editorial board of Gospodarka Narodowa. In his work as a researcher and journalist, Ivánka mainly dealt with issues related to cartels and trusts, but in the early 1930s he also studied internal trade statistics. During World War II, in his capacity as financial director of the City Administration, Ivánka played a major role in managing Warsaw’s finances. After the war he continued his research career. He lectured at the University of Warsaw, the Warsaw School of Economics – then called the Central School of Planning and Statistics (SGPiS) – and the Łódź University of Economics. He also worked at the Central Planning Office (CUP) and the central auditing office NIK. Ivánka wrote a book entitled Wspomnienia skarbowca (1964).