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I got into economics because I wanted to make things better for the average person.

I was an economics major, which I enjoyed because I had a good business sense.

I wasn't actually very naturally good at economics. My brain doesn't work very well, in terms of mathematics.

I wanted to put the national interest before my personal interests.

I had become interested in economics, an interest that was transformed into a lifetime dedication when I met with the mathematical theory of general economic equilibrium.

I was a sociology major. And it had nothing to do necessarily with law, which is ultimately - I went to law school. But what I tried to do was choose something that I was passionate about or something that I cared about.

Even though I didn't get a business degree, I enjoyed learning about economics.

In this age of specialization, I sometimes think of myself as the last 'generalist' in economics, with interests that range from mathematical economics down to current financial journalism. My real interests are research and teaching.

I entered economics because of a course I took on 'information economics,' which I found fascinating.

I studied economics and made it my career for two reasons. The subject was and is intellectually fascinating and challenging, particularly to someone with taste and talent for theoretical reasoning and quantitative analysis.