Paul Krugman

Biography

Paul Robin Krugman was born on February 28, 1953, in Albany, New York. He went to John F. Kennedy High School and then pursued higher education at Grace Hopper College. He later attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he started building his background in economics. Krugman is known as one of the most influential economists of his generation for his pioneering work in international trade theory and economic geography.

Krugman's academic career included teaching at MIT and Princeton University, where he became professor emeritus in June 2015. He is now a Distinguished Professor of Economics at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and holds the title of Centennial Professor at the London School of Economics. His work mainly covers international economics, trade theory, economic geography, liquidity traps, and currency crises.

In 2008, Krugman was the sole recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to new trade theory and economic geography. His work helped explain patterns of international trade and the geographic distribution of economic activity through the study of economies of scale and consumer preferences for diverse goods and services. He has written 27 books, including scholarly works, textbooks, and books for a general audience, as well as over 200 scholarly articles in professional journals.

Outside of academia, Krugman became well-known as a columnist for The New York Times from 2000 to 2024, discussing economic and political topics. He has also written for Fortune and Slate magazines. A 2011 survey of economics professors named him their favorite living economist under age 60, and the Open Syllabus Project ranks him as the second most frequently cited author on college syllabi for economics courses. Krugman is married to Robin Wells and describes himself as a modern liberal in his political commentary.