After nearly 25 years as a New York Times Opinion columnist, Paul Krugman announced Friday that he plans to retire from the gig at the end of the year.
The American economist and Nobel laureate has been a fixture at the paper since his first column on Jan. 2, 2000, where he predicted the beginning of the “Second Global Economy” steered by American ideals and the promise of globalization.
Times’ Opinion editor Kathleen Kingsbury hailed Krugman’s “authoritative voice” and “lively writing” in a parting memo, praising his ability to clearly lead readers through what can often be a dense thicket of economic ideas.
Kingsbury also applauded Krugman for speaking “hard truths ― sometimes as a lonely voice arguing unfashionable opinions.”
That includes his strong opposition to the American invasion of Iraq (and countless other George W. Bush-era policies), Barack Obama’s handling of the Great Recession, and, of course, Donald Trump’s alarming infatuation with tariffs.
Kingsbury said his final column ― as yet unwritten ― will be authored soon.
The Times’ Opinion audience director, Liriel Higa, said she admired how approachable Krugman is with his readers.
“Despite being a Nobel winner, Paul was incredibly accessible,” Higa wrote in the memo. “He responded to readers in comments on his articles; he touted the benefits of air fryers in an Opinion TikTok; he loved his cats.”
