I have long wondered about the transformation of Krugman from a nobel worthy scholar to a pundit of the ilk of Brad deLong. There is really nothing wrong with the Rushs, Rachels and Seans of the world. But it seems to me there are plenty of these, a surplus if you will of low brow, cheap shot, non intellectual loud mouths. Krugman has a comparative advantage in economic science, as a pundit he does provide the appearance of intellectual credibility to the left, but I still shake my head, not only at this most recent example, but at a long line of blog and op eds.
I recently attended the Phoenix Comicon with my son. I was reminded of Krugman often as I was subjected to grotesque, inappropriate, self centered costuming and behavior to really no positive end, other that a self congratulatory egotism.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/economists-accuse-krugman-of-uncivil-behavior-2013-05-26
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Harvard academics Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff have accused fellow economist Paul Krugman of Princeton of ‘uncivil behavior’ in his criticisms of their work related to the debate over debt and austerity.
Reinhart and Rogoff are known for scholarly work that sought to highlight the negative effects of too much debt. Krugman, who is also a columnist for the New York Times, has been critical of their positions which are seen as endorsing controversial pro-austerity policies.
But Reinhart and Rogoff argue that some Krugman’s counterarguments have been unfair.
“We admire your past scholarly work, which influences us to this day,” a Saturday letter posted on Reinhart’s website said. “So it has been with deep disappointment that we have experienced your spectacularly uncivil behavior the past few weeks.”
The Harvard economists also wrote, “Your characterization of our work and of our policy impact is selective and shallow. It is deeply misleading about where we stand on the issues.”
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