Joseph Cordes, a distinguished economist and longtime faculty member at the George Washington University who served the institution for more than four decades as a scholar, teacher and leader and whose work helped shape the study and practice of public policy, passed away on Feb. 25.
He was 76 years old.
Cordes joined GW in 1975 and held faculty appointments and leadership roles in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Economics and the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration, as well as a secondary appointment in the Elliott School of International Affairs. For nearly 20 years, he was an impactful member of the Faculty Senate, serving as the chair of the University and Urban Affairs Committee and, later, chair of the senate’s Fiscal Planning and Budgeting Committee – a role in which he became known as a wise and trusted faculty voice on the subject of university finances.
Cordes’ research and teaching focused on public economics, tax and budget policy, nonprofit sector economics and benefit-cost analysis, contributing to both academic scholarship and applied policy analysis. He also played a significant role in advancing interdisciplinary policy research and student engagement, including serving as the co-director of GW’s Regulatory Studies Center.
"Joe was a larger-than-life figure within Columbian College, the university and in the world beyond,” said CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck. “His expertise made an immense impact across the fields of finance and public policy, and he was beloved by all who knew him. To say he will be missed is an enormous understatement."
In addition to his academic work, Cordes held several senior roles in public service. He served as a Brookings economic policy fellow in the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Tax Policy and later as deputy assistant director for tax analysis at the Congressional Budget Office. He also held visiting and research appointments at various institutions, including the Urban Institute. He was a member of the editorial board of the Eastern Economic Journal and The International Review of Public Administration, in addition to refereeing for numerous academic journals.
He was widely respected by colleagues and students for his intellectual rigor, generosity as a mentor and commitment to public service. His legacy endures through his scholarship, his leadership and the many students and policymakers influenced by his work.
Cordes graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics from Stanford University in 1971, while earning his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1977.