Even though Lu Zhou did occasionally communicate with some economics scholars when he was in Princeton, he wasn't familiar with everyone.
It wasn't like he had to remember people's names just because he talked to them, right?
Not to mention that Princeton was a big place, and he had only been in Princeton for a few years, so he might not have met this guy before.
Lu Zhou carefully searched through his memory, but he couldn't find anyone that matched his name. It wasn't until he logged into the academic website and typed in this name that he found out who this guy was.
He found out that this guy wasn't just a nobody.
Krugman!
The winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Economics!
An expert in international trade, exchange rates, and macroeconomics!
The most brilliant achievement in his academic resume was his successful prediction of the 1997 Asian financial crisis in 1994. After the Asian financial crisis broke out, this prediction made his status in the field of economics skyrocket. This directly led to him winning the Nobel Prize in 2008.
However, what made Lu Zhou feel strange was why this guy contacted him.
The gist of the email was to ask him when he was free, and he wanted to video chat with him about academic matters.
Even though Lu Zhou wasn't very interested in economics, after thinking for a bit, he still wrote a reply letter and sent it over.
[It's eight o 'clock in the evening, Beijing time. If you're free, we can talk.]
After all, this was a scholar who had won the Nobel Prize, so he had to give him some face.
Anyway, he was on vacation, and he had nothing to do anyway …
…
Eight o 'clock in the evening.
At the appointed time, Krugman appeared in the video call.
The professor, who was meeting Lu Zhou for the first time, didn't even bother to introduce himself. As soon as he picked up the video call, he spoke in an eager tone.
"You don't know how important your research results are!"
Lu Zhou was a little confused by this sudden speech. He paused for a second and said, "I really don't know, I don't even know which research results you're talking about … Can you tell me?"
Krugman took a deep breath and explained.
"The Bewley model has always been at the forefront of macroeconomics. Your improved model … I'll call it the Lu Bewley model for now. Not only does it solve the problems of the Bewley model, but it also reduces the random error of the model!"
Bewley model?
So it was Xiao Tong's thesis …
After listening to Professor Krugman's explanation, Lu Zhou finally had a look of realization on his face.
However, Professor Krugman didn't show any interest.
Professor Krugman saw that Lu Zhou didn't speak, so he cleared his throat and spoke.
"Let's put it this way, if you strip away all the complicated research, there are only two ultimate goals of economics. One is to optimize the efficiency of resource allocation, and the other is to coordinate the interests of society! If we can obtain an accurate model, or even a model as accurate as possible, then we can optimize the allocation of resources to the maximum! From a personal perspective, we can even predict the future through economic activity! "
Lu Zhou finally reacted to the term "predict the future". He leaned back in his chair.
"This sounds incredible."
Lu Zhou smiled and looked at Professor Krugman. He then said, "I don't really understand the principles of economics, but when it comes to chaotic systems … I don't think there's any mathematical model that can predict 100% of the future. Let me give you an example, how do you predict the birth of controllable fusion technology? How do you predict its impact on the global economy before it's born? "
"I can't answer this question, but this isn't the main point." Krugman shook his head and said, "I can tell you that technological progress can be summarized in several parameters such as R&D investment and GDP ratio. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it, I can tell you that this is a Nobel Prize level discovery! As long as you continue to study the mathematical improvement of the Bewley model, I'm sure that the Nobel Prize in Economics will belong to you! "
"But … I've already won Fields Prizes." Lu Zhou shrugged and said, "I've also won a Nobel Prize."
The atmosphere in the video became awkward for a while.
Professor Krugman coughed and spoke.
"Don't you want to win another one? This is a Nobel Prize … "
"For me, a Nobel Prize isn't as attractive as before." Lu Zhou sighed and said, "You know what? I'm more interested in those fascinating problems than what kind of glory I can get. Can you understand this feeling? My dear Professor Krugman. "
"…"
Krugman didn't want to respond.
He even wanted to throw his pen at the screen.
A twenty-something year old telling me that I don't want to pursue honor anymore?
Fine, even if this guy is qualified to say this, this is too infuriating!
He took a deep breath and tried to convince Lu Zhou.
"Is the Bewley model not interesting enough for you? This was also an important problem! And it's difficult enough! I can confidently tell you that he can change the world more directly than any pure mathematics research — "
"Not necessarily." Lu Zhou interrupted Professor Krugman and smiled. He then said, "Also, improving the Bewley model … Or as you call it, the Lu Bewley model, only took me an hour. It doesn't look difficult at all."
An hour …
Krugman was stunned.
His instincts told him that this was impossible, but the person on the other side of the video didn't look like he was joking or lying.
What good would it do to lie to him?
However, to improve the Bewley model to such an excellent level in an hour …
This was too terrifying!
"Then that's it," said Lu Zhou. Professor Krugman was speechless. He then looked at his watch and yawned. He then said, "I'm sorry, but I can't help you much. There are many excellent mathematics professors in Princeton. Maybe you can take my model and ask them for help. "
"Then, goodbye."
The video call ended.
Krugman looked at the black screen and went silent for a long time. He then reached out with a trembling finger and took off his glasses.
His student, Wisl, who was watching the old man and Professor Lu, gulped and spoke.
"Professor?"
Krugman sighed and shook his head.
"I'll have to think of another way."
There were many excellent mathematics professors in Princeton, but there weren't many who were interested in economics. Especially those who were engaged in theoretical research. Many of them were biased against applied disciplines, and they thought that these things were a waste of time.
It wasn't easy for a big name in mathematics to enter the field and make some progress. There was no way Professor Lu would let this opportunity go.
You're like a panda in the zoo, how could I let you go?
Krugman went into deep thought. Suddenly, he had an idea.
He suddenly remembered that there was another author in the thesis.
It wasn't Forster.
He had never heard of this name before. This guy was probably just lucky.
But the name of the second author …
Krugman's eyes lit up. He looked at his student and spoke.
"Wisl!"
Wisl answered immediately when his name was suddenly called.
"I'm here … What can I do for you?"
"Write an email for me, I'll give you the email address later. Use my name, and write the recipient's name as Lu Xiaotong …" Krugman paused for a second and said, "If everything goes well, I should be able to make it."
Even though Lu Zhou didn't speak loudly, Wisl, who was busy editing the email, heard him.
He paused for a second and asked, "Make it?"
"Make it in time for what?"
"Fill in an application, or choose a supervisor," Krugman said. He paused for a second and said, "Remember the thesis I showed you? Even though that thesis was only good at the mathematical model part, it was able to organize the theory and make a mathematician who doesn't know anything about economics do such an important research. That's a rare quality … If I'm correct, she hasn't decided where to do her PhD yet! "
Wisl hesitated for a second and made a hypothetical hypothesis.
"But what if she doesn't want to continue on the academic path?"
Krugman flatly denied it.
"That's impossible!
"It's impossible for her to write such an excellent thesis if she doesn't want to continue on the academic path! She doesn't have to do this just to graduate!
"You just need to follow my instructions and send the email over."
"Okay …" Wisl looked at his boss and nodded. He then turned on his computer and began to edit the email.
The thirty-year-old doctor buried his head in the email and couldn't help but sigh.
Every graduation season, people would ask for all kinds of recommendation letters, trying their best to get a recommendation from a big name. However, this lucky girl didn't even get a recommendation letter, a Nobel Prize winner personally sent an email to invite her to do her PhD …
There was no one else who could receive this kind of treatment.
This was the first time Wisl had heard of something like this.
As Wisl thought about his school experience, he felt like there was a lemon in his heart, and the jealousy almost seeped into his email …
F * ck!
I'm so f * cking jealous!
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
