Norman Macrae

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Norman Alastair Duncan Macrae (1923–2010) was a British economist, journalist, and author. He worked for The Economist from 1949 and became deputy chief editor before retiring in 1988. He was known for predicting major shifts in economics and society, such as the rise of a Pacific century, the move away from nationalized industries, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the spread of the internet. Some people regarded him as one of the world’s best forecasters in economics and society.

Career highlights:
- Joined The Economist in 1949 and rose to deputy editor before retiring in 1988.
- Helped publish The Third World War: August 1985 (1978) and The Third World War: The Untold Story (1982), books largely written by collaborators under General Sir John Hackett.
- After leaving The Economist, wrote a biography of John von Neumann and contributed to The Sunday Times and Fortune magazine.
- Father of mathematician and author Chris Macrae.

Books and works:
- The 2024 Report: A Concise History of the Future 1974–2024 (1984)
- The 2025 Report: A Concise History of the Future, 1975–2025 (1985)
- John von Neumann: The Scientific Genius who Pioneered the Modern Computer, Game Theory, Nuclear Deterrence, and Much More (1992); later reissued by the American Mathematical Society in 2008.

Honours:
- Order of the Rising Sun, with Gold Rays, 1988
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), 1988

Family note:
- He was the father of mathematician and author Chris Macrae.