Joseph E. Stiglitz is an American economist and a Nobel Laureate in Economics. He is a professor at Columbia University and the co-chair of the High-Level Expert Group on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Stiglitz is a leading figure in the field of economics and has made significant contributions to the theories of information asymmetry, macroeconomics, and development economics. He is also a vocal critic of the current economic system, particularly the neoliberal policies of the past few decades. Stiglitz has written numerous books and articles on economics, including Globalization and Its Discontents, The Price of Inequality, and The Great Divide. He has also served as the Chief Economist of the World Bank and as Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Bill Clinton. Stiglitz has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2001, the John Bates Clark Medal in 1979, and the National Medal of Science in 2009. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.