Matilal Pal has an M.A. in Economics from Dhaka University and an M.Phil. in economics from Yale University, USA. He worked at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Karachi, and was a Research Economist at the Bangladesh Institute for Development Studies (BIDS). Pal worked at the United Nations in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). His major contributions there was to give a practical meaning to the concept of ‘common heritage of mankind’, when resources are to be utilized for the benefit of all nations. He retired from the UN as a Principal Officer.