Joseph E. Stiglitz is an American economist and a professor at Columbia University and winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Economics. He is known for his critical view of the management of globalization, free market economics and some international institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. He was an inquisitive youngster who was deeply affected by poverty, discrimination and episodic unemployment. He wondered why they existed and what he could do about them. Stiglitz had been involved in a number of researches and had been a part of renowned organizations and universities. He had been associated with most of the Ivy League institutions. From chairing the council of economic advisors to the World Bank Chief economist, Stiglitz is one of the most frequently cited economists. He is a New-Keynesian economist, which is school of contemporary macroeconomics based on the ideas of 20th century English economist John Keynes. From having John Maynard Keynes and Robert Solow as major influences to his economic career, Stiglitz has influenced Paul Krugman and Jason Furman, two well-known economists in today's time.