Conclusion
While not the most famous of Oxford's PPE graduates, or its academic personages, Robert Hall, later Lord Roberthall, was perhaps one of its most multifaceted. Starting out in Australia as a civil engineering graduate, he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford, taking a First in PPE, became an Oxford don and was an active member of the OERG.
In this capacity, Hall published, with Charles Hitch, a paper on full-cost pricing and the kinked demand curve in 1939, which subsequently became the focus of much Transatlantic debate amongst economists in the post-war period.After his wartime service for the British government in Washington, D.C., Hall returned to Oxford and later was Director of the Economic Section in the Cabinet Office from 1947 to 1953 and then Chief Economic Adviser to the Treasury during 1953-1961. During his tenure in Whitehall, Hall's influence on policy-making was significant, ranging from the rejection of ROBOT, the setting of relevant pricing policies for the post-war nationalisation programme, to the issue of implementation of incomes policy.
Upon leaving government service, Hall returned to Oxford to resume academic activities, becoming Principal of Hertford College, Chairman of the NIESR and President of the RES. Awarded a peerage in 1969, he started what was essentially a new career in politics. After a decade as an independent member of the Lords, Hall became an economic spokesperson for the SDP, active almost until his death in 1988. In light of the above, it may be concluded that he was indeed an economist “for all seasons”.