# Andrew Clausen

> Australian economist and software developer

**Wikidata**: [Q4756619](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4756619)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/andrew-clausen

## Summary
Andrew Clausen is an Australian economist, software developer, and computer scientist known for developing the GNU Parted disk partitioning tool and contributing to the Conectiva Linux distribution. Born in 1981, he combines expertise in economics and computer science, holding academic roles at the University of Edinburgh since 2012.

## Biography
- **Born**: 1981  
- **Nationality**: Australia  
- **Education**:  
  - Bachelor's degree, University of Melbourne (2000–2003)  
  - PhD in Economics, University of Pennsylvania (2005–2012)  
- **Known for**: GNU Parted, bridging economics and software development  
- **Employer(s)**: University of Edinburgh (2012–present), Conectiva  
- **Field(s)**: Economics, computer science, software development  

## Contributions  
Andrew Clausen is best known for creating **GNU Parted**, a critical open-source disk partitioning tool used widely in Linux and Unix-like systems. This software simplifies disk management and has been integral to system administration since its release. Clausen also contributed to **Conectiva**, a Brazilian Linux distribution and company, during his tenure there. His work reflects a unique blend of technical and economic expertise, though specific publications or patents are not detailed in the source material. GNU Parted remains a foundational tool in the open-source ecosystem, ensuring its lasting relevance in software development and system maintenance.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is Andrew Clausen’s most notable software contribution?  
A: He developed **GNU Parted**, a widely used open-source disk partitioning tool for Linux and Unix systems.  

### Q: Where has Andrew Clausen worked?  
A: He has been employed at the **University of Edinburgh** (since 2012) and previously contributed to the **Conectiva** Linux distribution.  

### Q: What fields is Andrew Clausen associated with?  
A: He works at the intersection of **economics** and **computer science**, with expertise in software development.  

## Why They Matter  
Andrew Clausen’s dual focus on economics and computer science distinguishes his career, enabling practical solutions in both fields. His development of **GNU Parted** addressed a critical need for reliable disk management tools in the open-source community, influencing system administrators and developers globally. By contributing to **Conectiva**, he supported the growth of Linux adoption in Brazil and beyond. His academic role at the University of Edinburgh further bridges theoretical economics with applied technical innovation, enriching interdisciplinary research. Without his contributions, the open-source toolkit for disk partitioning would lack a key component, and the intersection of economic analysis with software development would be less robust.  

## Notable For  
- Creator of **GNU Parted**, a foundational open-source software tool.  
- Contributor to the **Conectiva** Linux distribution and company.  
- Academic economist at the **University of Edinburgh** (2012–present).  
- Holder of a PhD in Economics from the **University of Pennsylvania**.  
- Unique integration of economics and computer science in his career.  

## Body  
### Early Life and Education  
Andrew Clausen was born in 1981 in Australia. He studied at the **University of Melbourne** from 2000 to 2003, earning a bachelor’s degree. He later pursued a PhD in Economics at the **University of Pennsylvania** from 2005 to 2012, formalizing his expertise in economic analysis.  

### Career  
Clausen’s career spans academia and software development:  
- **Conectiva**: He contributed to this Brazilian Linux distribution and company, which operated from 1995 until its eventual merger.  
- **University of Edinburgh**: Since 2012, he has worked as an economist, applying computational methods to economic research.  

### Open-Source Work  
- **GNU Parted**: Clausen developed this command-line disk partitioning tool, which remains essential for managing storage devices in Linux environments. The software’s flexibility and reliability have made it a staple in system administration.  
- **GitHub Presence**: He maintains a profile (@andrewclausen), though specific projects beyond GNU Parted are not detailed in the source material.  

### Interdisciplinary Focus  
Clausen’s work highlights the synergy between economics and computer science, leveraging technical skills to address economic questions and vice versa. This dual perspective informs his academic research and software contributions.

## References

1. LinkedIn
2. [Source](https://andrewclausen.net/Clausen_CV.pdf)