MARVIN KOSTERS FILES, 1974-75

Dr. Marvin H. Kosters, an economist who had been involved in the planning and analysis of wage and price controls with the Cost of Living Council during the Nixon administration, joined the Ford administration as consultant to the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy in December 1974. He remained with the administration until May 1975 when he returned to a position as resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Kosters had taken a leave of absence from the American Enterprise Institute in order to accept a position in the administration and become "a participant-observer in national economic policy machinery." Kosters was responsible for economic policy analysis and advice for the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, L. William Seidman. His duties included the coordination of domestic economic policy issues to be addressed by the Economic Policy Board and liaison with executive departments and agencies in developing policy issues and implementing policy decisions. Dr. Kosters was also responsible for responding to letters from economists and the general public concerning administration policies.

Kosters' role as observer is illustrated in several memoranda he prepared for Seidman concerning the purpose, structure and organization of the Economic Policy Board. The Board was established in October 1974 by Executive Order 11808, which outlined the EPB's responsibilities and its relationship with departments and agencies in only the most general terms. Kosters was responsible for further defining the Board's purpose, proposing what kinds of matters should be brought up for consideration by the executive committee, and streamlining the EPB staff organization.

Kosters also participated directly in the activities of the EPB and was responsible for organizing the quarterly economic review held in March 1975. The EPB executive committee met daily to discuss a variety of topics related to the domestic economy. The executive committee also organized two types of meetings to supplement the daily morning sessions -- quarterly economic policy reviews and executive committee special sessions. The review planned by Kosters followed the usual format -- an assessment of the overall economic outlook, review of the general direction of either domestic or international policy, and an examination of specific problem areas.

Kosters began planning for this March quarterly review in January 1975 by informally canvassing departments and agencies for possible agenda topics. He then prepared a review outline under Seidman's supervision and circulated it to executive committee members for comments and suggestions. The executive committee then approved a revised agenda, established task forces, made assignments, and set deadlines for papers. Kosters monitored departments and agencies to make sure that deadlines were being met and made arrangements for the three-day review. He also prepared an extensive follow-up paper.

Dr. Kosters also acted as liaison with the Office of Special Representative for Trade Negotiations during the time between the resignation of one Special Trade Representative and the appointment of a successor. He met regularly with staff members in the Office of the Special Trade Representative, reviewed testimony to be given by members of the Office, received copies of their substantive correspondence with House and Senate members, offered his views on how specific trade matters should be handled, and briefed Seidman concerning these matters.

Dr. Kosters' files contain materials distributed by the Council of Economic Advisers concerning economic data and indicators; information on several issues considered by the Economic Policy Board; and papers and publications submitted to him by various agencies, departments, economists, and private financial firms.

Related Materials (June 1982)
Related material may be found in the L. William Seidman papers and files, various White House Central Files subject categories, and the papers of the Council of Economic Advisers.