Richard Bird – Remembering a Canadian Taxation Giant by Professor Scott Wilkie published by – Osgoode Hall Law School (6/2021)
“Richard Bird passed away suddenly on Wednesday June 9, 2021.
It’s hard to imagine. He has been in my professional consciousness for as long as I’ve had one and our collective consciousness for much longer as a leader in taxation and public finance, in Canada certainly but also in the world. There are few scholars more distinguished than he in our field. We wrote together occasionally. He visited one of my classes a few months ago. Our conversations, no matter how separated in time, always seemed to resume effortlessly where they last left off.
I would like to remember Richard, in a personal way that I think, I hope reflects two of his most significant contributions to my, to our professional lives and indeed to our fiscal life and through them to our fiscal condition that animates the rest of our civilized existence…”
Death Of Richard Bird (University Of Toronto) by Paul Caron (6/2021)
“Richard M. Bird, Professor Emeritus of Economic Analysis and Policy at the University of Toronto, died suddenly on Wednesday June 9, 2021, at the age of 82:
He will be deeply missed by his loving wife Marcia, his family (Paul, Sandra, Marta, Abbey) and his grandchildren (Austin, Spenser, Jack, James, Rose). At his request, a private family service will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations to Doctors without Borders would be greatly appreciated. Sign the Guestbook….”
Richard M. Bird: In Memoriam
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Richard Bird, Senior Fellow at IMFG and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Economics and the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.
Richard was enthusiastic about IMFG from its creation in 2004 and lent his support and encouragement by publishing papers in our research program, reviewing papers, advising graduate students, and participating in events. He was working on an IMFG paper before he passed away.
Richard was a highly respected scholar, a creative thinker, and a prolific writer. Over the years, he worked on many different projects in municipal finance for the IMF, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, USAID, and other public agencies and private consulting firms in countries around the globe. His contributions to public policy in Canada and around the world are vast and will long be remembered.
Richard was known for his kindness toward colleagues and his generous support for young researchers. On a personal note, Richard was a mentor, colleague, and friend to me for over 40 years. I will greatly miss his support and wise counsel.
IMFG extends our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
Enid Slack
