Early life and education Paul Krugman

paul krugman, roger tsien, martin chalfie, osamu shimomura, makoto kobayashi , toshihide masukawa, nobel prize laureates 2008, @ press conference @ swedish academy of science in stockholm.

krugman born jewish family, son of anita (1925-2017) , david krugman (1924–2013). in 1922, paternal grandparents immigrated united states brest, belarus, @ time part of poland. born in albany, new york, , grew in merrick, hamlet in nassau county. graduated john f. kennedy high school in bellmore. according krugman, interest in economics began isaac asimov s foundation novels, in social scientists of future use new science of psychohistory try save civilization. since present-day science fell far short of psychohistory , krugman turned economics next best thing.

krugman earned b.a. summa cum laude in economics yale university in 1974, , went on pursue phd in economics massachusetts institute of technology (mit). in 1977, completed phd in 3 years, thesis titled essays on flexible exchange rates. while @ mit, part of small group of mit students sent work central bank of portugal 3 months in summer of 1976, during chaotic aftermath of carnation revolution.

krugman later praised phd thesis advisor, rudi dornbusch, 1 of great economics teachers of time , said had knack of inspiring students pick enthusiasm , technique, find own paths . in 1978, krugman presented number of ideas dornbusch, flagged interesting idea of monopolistically competitive trade model. encouraged, krugman worked on , later wrote, [i] knew within few hours had key whole career in hand . in same year, krugman wrote theory of interstellar trade , tongue-in-cheek essay on computing interest rates on goods in transit near speed of light. says wrote cheer himself when oppressed assistant professor .