Joseph Stiglitz

"The reason that the invisible hand often seems invisible is that it is often not there."

Joseph Stiglitz was Chief Economist at the World Bank until January 2000. Before that he was Chairman of President Clinton's Council of Economic Advisors. He is currently Professor of Finance and Economics at Columbia University. He won the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2001.Stiglitz has received more than 40 honorary degrees, including from Cambridge and Harvard, and he has been decorated by several governments including Bolivia, Korea, Colombia, Ecuador, and France, where he was appointed a member of the Legion of Honor, order Officer. In 2018 he was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize.

What subjects and genres does Joseph Stiglitz write in?

Stiglitz writes nonfiction on economics and public policy, with frequent focus on globalization, inequality, financial crises, trade, measurement of wellbeing, and the economics of Europe and the public sector.

Which of his books are best for new readers wanting an introduction?

Accessible entry points include The Price of Inequality and Globalization and Its Discontents Revisited. Freefall and People, Power, and Profits are also reader-friendly overviews of the financial crisis and contemporary policy debates.

Does Stiglitz write academic textbooks or popular books?

Both. He is the author of scholarly and textbook works such as Economics of the Public Sector, as well as many popular, policy-oriented books aimed at general readers.

Is there a recommended reading order for his work?

There is no strict sequence. For themes, read his globalization books together (for example Globalization and Its Discontents Revisited), his inequality and policy books together (for example The Price of Inequality, The Great Divide), and his Europe-focused books if you want regional analysis (for example The Euro, Rewriting the Rules of the European Economy). Start with a general, accessible title before moving to more technical works.

What major awards and honors has Joseph Stiglitz received?

He won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2001, has received more than 40 honorary degrees, was appointed to the Legion of Honor in France, and received the Sydney Peace Prize in 2018, among other national decorations.