| Kārlis Balodis | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 June 1864 "Bilstiņi" estate, Koknese parish, Governorate of Livonia Russian empire |
| Died | 13 January 1931 (aged 66) Rīga, Latvia |
| Alma mater | University of Tartu University of Jena University of Munich University of Strasbourg |
| Occupation | Economist Financist Demographist Statistician |
Kārlis Balodis (German: Carl Ballod; born June 20, 1864, died January 13, 1931) was a notable Latvian economist, financist, statistician and demographist. Most notably, he is the author of civilian rationing, which was first used in Germany during the First World War. Balodis has received the Grand Gold Medal of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as well as Dmitry Tolstoy Prize.
Between 1884 and 1887 Kārlis studied teology at the University of Tartu. In 1888, he was sent to Brazil to work as a Lutheran minister. In 1891 and 1892, he studied geography at the University of Jena. Between 1893 and 1895, he worked as a minister in the Ural Mountains region, and wrote his first researchs on demography and statistics. In 1895, he started studying economics at the University of Munich.
After 1899, Balodis worked as an associate professor at the University of Berlin. In 1905, he became an employee of Prussian Statistics Office, and in 1908, he started work at the German Federal Ministry of Finance. In 1918 he became the first chairman of the Pro Palestinian Committee. In 1919, he worked on the civilian rationing system.
After the war Balodis returned to Latvia, where he became a professor at the University of Latvia. In 1928, he became a member of the Parliament of Latvia.