Paul Israel Singer: Austrian‑born Brazilian economist, scholar and activist

Academic work and areas of study

Beginning in 1979 Singer returned to university teaching and served as a professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC‑SP) for several years. During his tenure he held administrative responsibilities, including leadership of the Department of Economics and membership of the University Council. His academic interests were broadly situated within political economy and social theory, and he frequently engaged with themes such as:

• Marxist and heterodox approaches to economics
• Labor movements, trade unions and working‑class organization
• Public policy and the relationship between democracy and social change

Political activity and influence

Outside the academy Singer was active as an organizer and intellectual in Brazil's democratic and labor movements. He was one of the founders of the Workers' Party (Workers' Party) in 1980, a formative actor in the process that sought to unite trade unionists, community organizers and leftist intellectuals into a national political alternative. Over decades he advised, debated and published on strategies for social reform and the role of organized labor in democratic societies.

Writings and legacy

Singer published extensively for specialist and general audiences; his work combined theoretical reflection with attention to contemporary Brazilian politics. He is regarded as an influential figure among scholars and activists interested in how economic structures intersect with political institutions and social movements. Colleagues and readers often cite his commitment to connecting academic analysis with practical political concerns.

Paul Singer died on 16 April 2018 in São Paulo at the age of 86. His contributions to economic thought and to the institutional development of Brazil's left continue to be discussed in studies of modern Brazilian politics and social policy.