{{Short description|Taiwanese economist and game theorist (1940–2018)}} {{family name hatnote|Hu|lang=Chinese}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Hu Sheng-cheng | native_name = {{no bold|胡勝正}} | native_name_lang = zh-tw | image = 胡勝正 Academia Sinica Portrait.jpg | alt = | caption = | office = Chairperson of Financial Supervisory Commission | term_start = 25 January 2007 | term_end = 1 July 2008 | predecessor = Shih Jun-ji<br/>Susan Chang {{small|(acting)}} | successor = Gordon Chen | order1 = | office1 = Minister of the Council for Economic Planning and Development | term_start1 = 20 May 2004 | term_end1 = 21 May 2007 | predecessor1 = Lin Hsin-i | successor1 = Ho Mei-yueh | birth_date = {{birth date|1940|8|5|df=y}} | death_date = {{death date and age|2018|7|10|1940|8|5|df=y}} | birth_place = Taihoku Prefecture, Japanese Taiwan (today Yilan County, Taiwan | death_place = Zhongzheng, Taipei, Taiwan | education = National Taiwan University (BA)<br/>University of Rochester (MA, PhD) }}
'''Hu Sheng-cheng''' ({{lang-zh|t=胡勝正|p=Hú Shèngzhèng}}; 5 August 1940 – 10 July 2018) was a Taiwanese economist and game theorist. He led the Council for Economic Planning and Development from 2004 to 2007 and the Financial Supervisory Commission from 2007 to 2008.
==Early life and education== Hu was born in Yilan County on August 5, 1940, during the Japanese rule of Taiwan. After graduating from National Yilan Senior High School, he studied economics at National Taiwan University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1962.<ref>{{cite news |title=2004 honorary degree: Sheng-Cheng Hu |url=https://www.purdue.edu/uns/html3month/2004/04hondocs/04.Hu.html |accessdate=2 May 2019 |publisher=Purdue University |date=2004}}</ref> He then completed military service in the Republic of China Armed Forces and pursued graduate studies in the United States at the University of Rochester, where he earned a master's degree in economics in 1967 and his Ph.D. in economics in 1970 specializing in game theory.<ref name="hsfscappt">{{cite news|title=Hu appointed chairman of FSC|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2007/01/26/2003346453|accessdate=23 March 2016|date=26 January 2007|work=Taipei Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sheng-Cheng Hu - The Mathematics Genealogy Project |url=https://www.mathgenealogy.org/id.php?id=254873 |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=www.mathgenealogy.org}}</ref> His doctoral dissertation was titled, "Technical progress and optimal growth."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hu |first=Sheng Cheng |url=https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1130282272790631040 |title=Technical progress and optimal growth |date=1970 |publisher=Xerox University Microfilms}}</ref>
== Academic career == Hu remained in the United States, and began a teaching career at Purdue University in 1968.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Norberg|first1=John|title=Three Tigers and Purdue|date=1999|publisher=Purdue University Press|isbn=9780931682766|page=220|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RSBTE1YTpKoC&pg=PA220}}</ref> While working in the U.S., Hu authored a pair of reports to the Social Security Administration.<ref>{{cite news |title=Research & Analysis by Sheng Cheng Hu |url=https://www.ssa.gov/policy/authors/HuShengCheng.html |accessdate=2 May 2019}}</ref> Hu returned to Taiwan in 1996, teaching at NTU and holding a concurrent appointment at the Academia Sinica until 2001.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sheng-Cheng Hu|url=http://www.econ.sinica.edu.tw/english/content/researcher/contents/2013112916162826972/?MSID=2013112916161789113|accessdate=24 March 2016|publisher=Academia Sinica}}</ref>
==Political career== Hu was appointed a minister without portfolio by premier Chang Chun-hsiung in 2001 and had oversight of financial policies.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Huang|first1=Joyce|title=Four new Cabinet officials appointed|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2001/03/06/0000076348|accessdate=15 August 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=6 March 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kearns|first1=Patrick|title=Veteran economist aims to boost ailing economy|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2001/03/06/0000076350|accessdate=15 August 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=6 March 2001}}</ref> Hu was retained by Chang's successor Yu Shyi-kun when Yu took office in February 2002.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Huang|first1=Joyce|title=Yu unveils final appointments to 'combative Cabinet'|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2002/01/25/0000121349/2|accessdate=15 August 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=25 January 2002}}</ref> Later that year, Yu initiated a six-year development plan devoted to promotion of environmentally friendly industries.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ko|first1=Shu-ling|title=Government's six-year plan to develop a 'green silicon island' divides critics|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/05/13/0000135830|accessdate=15 August 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=13 May 2002}}</ref> He placed Hu in charge of research and development, high value-added industry, and the establishment of an operation center.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ko|first1=Shu-ling|title=Development plan finds support|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/05/09/0000135267|accessdate=15 August 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=9 May 2002}}</ref> Upon the resignation of finance minister Lee Yung-san in November, Hu was considered a potential successor.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ko|first1=Shu-ling|title=Premier asks for time to fill positions|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2002/11/26/0000184776|accessdate=15 August 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=26 November 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Huang|first1=Joyce|title=Financial-sector reforms must go on|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2002/11/26/0000184839|accessdate=15 August 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=26 November 2002}}</ref> In 2004, he was named the head of the Council for Economic Planning and Development, in addition to his duties as minister without portfolio.<ref name="interview">{{cite news|last1=Huang|first1=Joyce|title=Planner says firms need deregulation|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2004/06/07/2003174146/1|accessdate=23 March 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=7 June 2004}}</ref> After the resignation of Shih Jun-ji in January 2007, Hu was selected to chair the Financial Supervisory Commission.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shih|first1=Hsiu-chuan|title=Cabinet unveils reshuffle details|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/01/26/2003346358|accessdate=23 March 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=26 January 2007}}</ref> He stepped down in July 2008, and was replaced by Gordon Chen.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hsu|first1=Crystal|title=New FSC chairman takes office|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2008/07/02/2003416273|accessdate=23 March 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=2 July 2008}}</ref>
Hu later returned to the Academia Sinica as a research fellow.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Su|first1=Amy|title=Asia may save global economy: Liu|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2011/08/06/2003510025|accessdate=23 March 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=6 August 2011}}</ref> He was an adviser to Wellington Koo's 2014 Taipei mayoral campaign.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chen|first1=Ching-min|last2=Chung|first2=Jake|title='Hsichih Trio' supports Wellington Koo|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/01/17/2003581494|accessdate=15 August 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=17 January 2014}}</ref> In August 2016, Hu assumed the chairmanship of the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hsu|first1=Crystal|title=Hu Sheng-cheng takes helm at CIER|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2016/08/03/2003652327|accessdate=15 August 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=3 August 2016}}</ref> He fell ill that same year,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Liao |first1=Yu-yang |last2=Kao |first2=Evelyn |title=Renowned economist Hu Sheng-cheng dies |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/search/201807110015.aspx |accessdate=13 July 2018 |agency=Central News Agency |date=11 July 2018}}</ref> and died of pulmonary calcification at National Taiwan University Hospital on 10 July 2018, aged 77.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hsu |first1=Crystal |title=CIER chairman Hu Sheng-cheng dies at age 77 |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2018/07/12/2003696501 |accessdate=13 July 2018 |work=Taipei Times |date=12 July 2018}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hu, Sheng-cheng}} Category:1940 births Category:2018 deaths Category:20th-century Taiwanese economists Category:University of Rochester alumni Category:Academic staff of the National Taiwan University Category:Government ministers of Taiwan Category:Purdue University faculty Category:National Taiwan University alumni Category:Politicians of the Republic of China on Taiwan from Yilan County, Taiwan Category:21st-century Taiwanese economists