ABSTRACT
Robert Hall, who took over from James Meade on a full-time basis on 1 September 1947, held office as Director of the Economic Section for fourteen years – twice as long as his three predecessors put together and much longer than any of his successors. From 1947 onwards it was through him that the views of the Section reached ministers and it was mainly through him that the Section made its influence felt on economic policy. He proved an outstanding success under both Labour and Conservative governments as adviser to a long line of Chancellors – eight in fourteen years.
