Skip to main content

Economist Paul Krugman talks Asimov, Death Stars, and other sci-fi influences

Economist Paul Krugman talks Asimov, Death Stars, and other sci-fi influences

/

In a recent interview with Wired, renowned economist and columnist Paul Krugman talked about the influence science fiction has had on his life and career and discussed his new book, End This Depression Now!

Share this story

Paul Krugman Wikimedia Commons
Paul Krugman Wikimedia Commons

In a recent interview with Wired, renowned economist and columnist Paul Krugman talked about the influence science fiction has had on his life and career and discussed his new book, End This Depression Now! It's a long and entertaining read that, among other things, relates Krugman's desire to become an economist after reading Isaac Asimov's The Foundation. In answer to whether or not building a Death Star would be the worth the estimated $852 quadrillion that it would cost to build, Krugman responds "I think more likely we’re going to have microscopic drones that can kill everybody. So the Death Star is a very antiquated vision of what evil will look like. Evil will come in stylish, Steve Jobs-inspired designs." For more, check out the full interview at Wired.