Nobel Prize In Economics
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Pretty much accidentally I spent four years as a work-study student at Northwestern's Department of Managerial Economics and Decision Sciences. The professors there were "high quant" types, game theorists, and the department had a wonderful, international reputation, as did the entire business school during the MBA-crazed years 1980-84.
Once, one of the professors said to me, "Peter, you see that guy over there? He'll win the Nobel Prize for sure, if cigarettes don't get him first." It was Robert E. Lucas, who was a visiting professor from the U. of Chicago. He did indeed win the Nobel, in 1995, and happily he's still going strong (though coughing on a recent podcast available on EconTalk).
This week the Nobel went to Roger Myerson, whose office was a few feet away from the desk where I answered phones and did light office work. I didn't know him well, though I probably said hello to him several days a week for four years. I remember him as extremely shy, but kind--the picture of a professor with an obsessional attachment to his work, but notes of humor about himself.
It's great to see he now writes about electoral procedures, corruption, and the Iraq War, in addition to his more theoretical books and papers.
Once, one of the professors said to me, "Peter, you see that guy over there? He'll win the Nobel Prize for sure, if cigarettes don't get him first." It was Robert E. Lucas, who was a visiting professor from the U. of Chicago. He did indeed win the Nobel, in 1995, and happily he's still going strong (though coughing on a recent podcast available on EconTalk).
This week the Nobel went to Roger Myerson, whose office was a few feet away from the desk where I answered phones and did light office work. I didn't know him well, though I probably said hello to him several days a week for four years. I remember him as extremely shy, but kind--the picture of a professor with an obsessional attachment to his work, but notes of humor about himself.
It's great to see he now writes about electoral procedures, corruption, and the Iraq War, in addition to his more theoretical books and papers.
