Marshall Blume, Wharton professor emeritus of financial management, passed away this week. In a note to the school’s faculty and staff, Wharton Dean Geoff Garrett wrote, “Marshall served the Finance Department with great distinction for 40 years before his retirement. He was a noted scholar in investment strategies, measurement of risk and pricing of financial assets.”In addition to his research, Blume helped create OTIS, Wharton’s Online Trading and Investment Simulator, a platform that enables students to learn the nuances of investment and portfolio management. While the platform was being built some 20 years ago, he took members of Wharton’s Learning Lab team to the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to help them understand how trading really works. During the past few years, thousands of high school students around the world—who have taken part in the Knowledge@Wharton High School Investment Competition—have learned about trading through OTIS.
Knowledge@Wharton’s audience often benefited from Blume’s insights into financial markets. For example, his analysis of the financial crisis of 2008 continues to be a popular video. It can be viewed here.
We will miss you, Marshall Blume. May you rest in peace.
