Greg Rosalski

But in the early 2000s, there were these three economists who pointed out something was missing from that picture. Something massive that a lot of people in their field were overlooking. Their research, it triggered a revolution in economics. And this year, those three economists, they won the Nobel Prize. We recently met up with one of them on Zoom. Hello. Hello. Yes, this is James Robinson here.

Wow. Punctuality, sir. I feel like winning a Nobel Prize, you wouldn't have to show up on time anymore.

Wow. Punctuality, sir. I feel like winning a Nobel Prize, you wouldn't have to show up on time anymore.

Wow. Punctuality, sir. I feel like winning a Nobel Prize, you wouldn't have to show up on time anymore.

Now, it's one thing to win a Nobel Prize. It's another to win it with your friends.

Now, it's one thing to win a Nobel Prize. It's another to win it with your friends.

Now, it's one thing to win a Nobel Prize. It's another to win it with your friends.

An emoji. Of course, being hard-hitting journalists, we had to verify this fact with Duran himself. So we called him up.

An emoji. Of course, being hard-hitting journalists, we had to verify this fact with Duran himself. So we called him up.

An emoji. Of course, being hard-hitting journalists, we had to verify this fact with Duran himself. So we called him up.

Good, drone! How, well, you know, we talked a few weeks ago, uh, and I wasn't nervous, but somehow I, I'm, I'm nervous now with a man of you.

Good, drone! How, well, you know, we talked a few weeks ago, uh, and I wasn't nervous, but somehow I, I'm, I'm nervous now with a man of you.

Good, drone! How, well, you know, we talked a few weeks ago, uh, and I wasn't nervous, but somehow I, I'm, I'm nervous now with a man of you.

So James Robinson told us that he did send you a smiley face emoji.

So James Robinson told us that he did send you a smiley face emoji.

So James Robinson told us that he did send you a smiley face emoji.

Which is wonderful.

Which is wonderful.

Which is wonderful.

This trio of economists won the prize for a monumental insight, one that helped economists understand this kind of mysterious X factor that can determine the success or failure of a nation's economy. Hello and welcome to Planet Money. I'm Greg Rosalski.