Who is Robert Barro?:
From Barro's Harvard Biography: "Robert J. Barro is Robert C. Waggoner Professor of Economics at Harvard University, a senior fellow of the Hoover Institution of Stanford University, a columnist for Business Week, and a frequent contributor to The Wall Street Journal. He has written extensively on macroeconomic topics. Recent research has focused on the determinants of economic growth and the role of dollarization."
What is Robert Barro Most Famous For?:
His work on Macroeconomics and monetary policy. His 1974 paper "Are Government Bonds Net Wealth?" created what is known as the "Ricardian Equivalence Hypothesis" (
more here. The article may be the most commonly cited article in Macroeconomics. His 1976 paper "Rational Expectations and the Role of Monetary Policy" is quite well known as well. Barro is well known outside of academia for his columns in the Wall Street Journal and Business Week.
Well-Known Articles By Robert Barro:
Anyone studying Macroeconomics probably has at least a half dozen Barro articles in their file cabinet. One article I've found useful over the years which isn't cited as heavily as the two mentioned earlier is "A Capital Market in an Equilibrium Business Cycle Model" in the September 1980 issue of Econometrica.
Books Written by Robert Barro:
Barro along with co-author Xavier Sala-i-Martin the seminal text "Economic Growth". Barro has written a number of textbooks on Macroeconomics and monetary policy.
Graduate Students of Robert Barro:
Robert Barro was the thesis advisor for many of the well-known Macroeconomists to come out of the University of Rochester, such as Zvi Hercowitz and Nasser Saidi. He was the advisor to Xavier Sala-i-Martin, who could conceivably win the Nobel Prize in Economics someday.
What Will Robert Barro Be Remembered For?:
If Robert Barro had retired in 1975 he'd still be remembered for his "Are Government Bonds Net Wealth?" today. His accomplishments since 1975, however, are just as impressive. He's had an incredibly productive career and has made a number of contributions to the science of Economics.
Why Robert Barro May Win the Nobel Prize in 2003:
Other than Robert Lucas, nobody made more contributions to the field of Macroeconomics than Robert Barro in the 1970's, 80's, and 90's.
Why Robert Barro May Not Win the Nobel Prize in 2003:
He is under 60 years old, so the commitee may feel that there is still time to honor him. Some academics are put off by his more mainstream articles, and he's seen as more political than some of the other candidates. Robert Barro will win the Nobel Prize. We just don't know which year it will happen in.
Where Can I Learn More About Robert Barro:
See his personal
website.
Zeal has a few Robert Barro links.
