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Michael Meeropol (born March 10, 1943) is an American economist, author, and retired professor of economics. He is the elder son of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were executed on June 19, 1953, for conspiracy to commit espionage amid Cold War tensions. Following their parents' execution, he and his younger brother Robert were adopted by the songwriter, poet, and activist Abel Meeropol.
Meeropol earned his B.A. from Swarthmore College in 1964, his M.A. from the University of Wisconsin in 1968, and his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1973. Professionally, he served as a professor of economics at Western New England University from 1971 until his retirement as professor emeritus in 2008.
He has actively worked to reassess his parents' prosecution, publicly defending them against espionage accusations and criticizing historians like Ronald Radosh for perpetuating narratives he views as damaging. His scholarly work focuses on U.S. economic policy, with notable books including We Are Your Sons: The Legacy of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg (co-authored with Robert Meeropol, 1975), Surrender: How the Clinton Administration Completed the Reagan Revolution (1998), and Principles of Macroeconomics: Activist vs. Austerity Policies (co-authored with Howard J. Sherman, 2014). He is also a frequent guest and interviewee on radio programs, where he discusses economic issues, blending academic expertise with public engagement. His life and work intersect personal history with broader themes of justice, economics, and political critique, making him a prominent voice in debates on historical accountability and policy reform.