Emilio Ontiveros
1948-2022

Economist 'avant la Lettre', teacher of economists and great popularizer, never wanted to leave the Academy

‍

It doesn't matter, Emilio, because you leave us a lot of things. You leave several generations of pupils that, out of the immense respect and admiration for what you gave us, we will try to read in a positive and always constructive way those runes of the economy that you leave us scattered on the table.

Emilio Ontiveros is dead. Not only does a teacher of economists go with him, but someone who knew how to combine theory with practice. Not only did he contribute to the academy, but he created and managed AFI, his creature, in an innovative way.

‍

Emilio has been a passionate economist, convinced that knowledge, analysis and public debate are essential for society to progress

‍

Death has too soon taken the life of Emilio Ontiveros, an affectionate friend, an overwhelming teacher and a brilliant and careful economist. Rest In Peace who has so marked our friends, disciples and students, colleagues, clients and thousands of citizens who followed him in the media.

Emilio was pure energy and passion for people. For many of us, he has been a leader, a mentor and a friend. He succeeded as a teacher, as an analyst, as a communicator, as a consultant and as an entrepreneur; and he traveled that path based on example, honesty and generosity with whom we have been fortunate enough to work with him.

He spoke not only about what he was researching, but also with the knowledge of the facts of those who have experienced it during conventional working days

Faced with that tension that some people are determined to turn into a national sport, your judicious voice always encouraged dialogue and conversation. Dear Emilio, you left suddenly, and too soon, like the character in a Sorrentino movie.

‍

I write these lines one week after the long hours spent with family and friends in front of the coffin that contained Emilio Ontiveros' already inanimate body. Eight days have passed since, at the beginning of the first afternoon of this month of August, the moved voice of Rafael Myro —his best friend— transmitted to me the very painful news of that unexpected death

Emilio Ontiveros has been one of the great Spanish economists, in the version of “engineer”, who according to N. Gregory Mankiw I would characterize the first macroeconomists, among whom I would also include the less orthodox, such as John Kennet Galbraith.

“It's a beacon that went out,” said Iñaki Gabilondo. “When we wanted to understand, we turned to Emilio. He was neither a futurologist nor a passadologist. He was a man of progressive, social-democratic thinking, who was never blinded by the reality of the facts.”

It is difficult to find such a complete economist who has dedicated his life to serving Spain with wisdom, commitment and passion. His great vocation was that of a teacher and trainer for university students, professionals and businessmen.

Emilio Ontiveros, our Emilio, friend and teacher, has died. His absence leaves us with a wound that is very difficult to close. Among the friends of the gang from half a century ago, we have crossed messages and calls of desolation and pain.

Orphanhood is what is left when you learn that Emilio Ontiveros, who was one of the most brilliant economists, has died. One of the best disseminators of the economy, capable of making sense and explaining chaos.

Emilio was a brilliant professor of Business Economics at my home university, the Autonomous University of Madrid, and founder and president of AFI, a highly reputable international consulting firm, like Emilio himself.

Professor Emilio Ontiveros taught me, like Bernard Shaw, that Economics is a science that serves to get the most out of life. Our Emilio also told us that it served to understand human behavior and to make us happier, more prosperous.

One of Emilio's many virtues was his sense of talent, he wanted to surround himself with the best within his reach, and with good people (he detected “birds” and “kids”, as he said, leagues away).

I saw Emilio in the corridors of the UAM, I devoured his articles, and of course, I didn't miss a single one of his conferences. How easy it was to understand everything when he explained it. Finally, in the fifth year of my career I was able to have him as a teacher.

The death of Emilio Ontiveros on August 1st has dismayed all of us who follow the exciting world of economics and had him as one of our leading intellectuals.

There are not many economists of his level left in Spain, especially considering that he was great in the academic world, a great one in the financial world, a great one in the world of the media and a great person.

The deceased economist was always that affable, courageous, entrepreneurial professor, and above all, willing to admire the successes of other people's work rather than to censor mistakes

‍

The life and work of Emilio Ontiveros have strived to achieve a desire for personal and social security for all.

The 74-year-old economist from Ciudad Real dedicated his life to explaining what was happening with money, with investments, with the changes of direction of countries depending on economic cycles.

The late economist led the business project of International Financial Analysts 35 years ago.

“Without taking his feet off the ground; his realism was nourished not only by his academic knowledge or professional experience, but by life, by his own life.”

‍