AN OXFORD economist who promoted liberal trade policies and advised the World Bank has died at the age of 93.

Ian Little was considered one of post-war Britain’s finest economic minds.

He is credited with helping to lift millions out of poverty by promoting free trade in developing countries.

While a professor at Oxford he wrote two influential books – Industry and Trade in Some Developing Countries and Project Selection and Planning in Developing Countries.

Prof Little, who was born on December 18, 1918, was educated at Eton and New College, Oxford, where one of his tutors was philosopher Isaiah Berlin.

He was called up a few days after the start of the Second World War and served as a test pilot in the RAF.

It was at an air force camp that he met his future wife, Doreen Hennessy, whom he married in 1946. They had a son and a daughter.

On returning to Oxford after the war, he gained a first in PPE before gaining a Fellowship by examination at All Souls College in 1948.

In 1952 he became a Fellow at Nuffield College where he remained for the rest of his career, serving as bursar for three years.

Prof Little also served as an economist at the Treasury, as an adviser to the Indian Planning Commission and as vice-president of the OECD Development Centre.

He retired in 1976 but was appointed a special adviser to the World Bank, a position he held for two years.

In 1984 his first wife died and in 1991 he married Lydia Segrave. He continued to write a number of books after his retirement and was awarded a CBE in 1997.

Prof Little, who died on July 13, is survived by his second wife and his children.