Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

  • Shop
  • Subscribe to BMG
  • Contact
  • Log In
  • Front Page
  • All Posts
  • About
  • Rules
  • Events
  • Register on BMG

“Weird in a positive way”

October 13, 2008 By David

That’s how Princeton economist and NY Times op-ed columnist Paul Krugman described his day so far today, which began with an early morning phone call informing him that he was this year’s only winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics.  He’s now $1.4 million richer.  If it were any other economist, I’d have added “and a lot more famous,” but with Krugman, I’m not sure that’s true, since he already has about as high a public profile as an academic can have.

Congratulations to Professor Krugman!

Please share widely!
fb-share-icon
Tweet
0
0

Filed Under: User Tagged With: nobel

Comments

  1. sabutai says

    October 13, 2008 at 10:07 am

    Expect bellyaching from the Republicans about how “politicized” the awards are because this follows up on Carter and Gore by going to a prominent critic of the Bush Administration.  Added by explanations that no this isn’t really a Nobel Prize…

    <

    p>It never occurs to them that Krugman would receive this award because he’s good at economics, and he’s criticizing people who are astoundingly bad at it.  Good for Paul!

    • syphax says

      October 13, 2008 at 11:03 am

      I think he’s a great economist, but only an OK columnist (except when discussing economics; those articles tend to be very strong).

      <

      p>I think he should stick to his knitting; his non-economics writings diminish him.

      • mr-lynne says

        October 13, 2008 at 1:26 pm

        … it offers some analysis from a perspective that doesn’t rely on access.  As he has said in the past, the figures he needs to do his reporting are in the public domain, so administration officials can’t play games with tying his access to officials to the tenor of his reporting.  I don’t have to worry about him protecting a source or slanting his  coverage in order to protect his access.

        <

        p>Of course, there was a time in this country when the public wouldn’t have stood for an administration that limits access according to a ‘slant’ litmus test and when the collective media would have excoriated any attempt to do so.

      • sabutai says

        October 13, 2008 at 2:29 pm

        Krugman I think is a print-version of Olbermann.  The two are kind of in the vanguard of people who’ve decided to step away from the relaxing weasel language that had dominated left-wing punditry for so long.  Hence the affection for him.  

    • z says

      October 13, 2008 at 12:24 pm

      been reading his blog since day 1 and read some of his old books.

      <

      p>but I think he’s known more for his NYT columns and criticism of the Bush Admin. than his contribution to new trade theory (which was primarily during the late 70s/80s, I think).  

      <

      p>So it was a political move, I think, but still well deserved and I’ll look forward to the newfound gravitas behind his commentary.  

  2. lightiris says

    October 13, 2008 at 3:48 pm

    or even willing to separate Krugman the columnist with Krugman the Princeton economics professor.  Unless there are a bunch of contributors swinging here in high-level international economics circles, I suspect few know much about Krugman’s contributions or whether he actually deserves his Nobel.  Sheesh.  

  3. trickle-up says

    October 13, 2008 at 6:06 pm

    I like his columns too, but where he really shines is in his work explaining the dismal science to the intelligent lay reader.

    <

    p>I’m thinking in particular of his book, the Accidental Economist, which is at once entertaining, engaging, and informative. Try doing that on any topic, let along the murky, jargon-y, and counterintuitive world of economic theory!

    <

    p>(Note: Obviously where he really shines is in the place he has won his Nobel laurels, but I’m not an economist and won’t pretend I am familiar with that body of his work.)

Recommended Posts

  • No posts liked yet.

Recent User Posts

Predictions Open Thread

December 22, 2022 By jconway

This is why I love Joe Biden

December 21, 2022 By fredrichlariccia

Garland’s Word

December 19, 2022 By terrymcginty

Some Parting Thoughts

December 19, 2022 By jconway

Beware the latest grift

December 16, 2022 By fredrichlariccia

Thank you, Blue Mass Group!

December 15, 2022 By methuenprogressive

Recent Comments

  • blueeyes on Beware the latest griftSo where to, then??
  • Christopher on Some Parting ThoughtsI've enjoyed our discussions as well (but we have yet to…
  • Christopher on Beware the latest griftI can't imagine anyone of our ilk not already on Twitter…
  • blueeyes on Beware the latest griftI will miss this site. Where are people going? Twitter?…
  • chrismatth on A valedictoryI joined BMG late - 13 years ago next month and three da…
  • SomervilleTom on Geopolitics of FusionEVERY un-designed, un-built, and un-tested technology is…
  • Charley on the MTA on A valedictoryThat’s a great idea, and I’ll be there on Sunday. It’s a…

Archive

@bluemassgroup on Twitter

Twitter feed is not available at the moment.

From our sponsors




Google Calendar







Search

Archives

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter




Copyright © 2025 Owned and operated by BMG Media Empire LLC. Read the terms of use. Some rights reserved.