Mogens and Ester Boserup were both Danish economists. Mogens is almost forgotten nowadays, whilst Ester is remembered mainly for her ideas in two specific areas (an anti-Malthusian growth theory, and emphasising the central role of women in development). This represents, however, a very fragmented picture of their contributions, which all seem to stem from their experiences as participants in the Danish debate of the 1930s, and from their international work in Geneva, India and Africa. Almost all their contributions seem to be specific manifestations of the basic ideas that they both shared.