Joseph E. Stiglitz is an American economist widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in modern economic thought. Born in Gary, Indiana, he rose to international acclaim as a Nobel Prize-winning economist, awarded the 2001 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his work on the economics of information asymmetry. A longtime professor at Columbia University, he has held senior roles including Chief Economist at the World Bank and Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Bill Clinton, experience that informs his writing on inequality, globalization, and market failures. He is the author of numerous bestselling books, including Globalization and Its Discontents, The Price of Inequality, and Freefall, works that offer sharp critiques of unchecked free-market policies and their consequences for ordinary people. Known for challenging mainstream economic orthodoxy, his writing has shaped public debate on issues ranging from the 2008 financial crisis to rising global inequality. Known for his rigorous, accessible analysis of economics and public policy, Stiglitz's work continues to shape modern economic thought and inspire readers across the world.