Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman has ended his 24-year tenure as a columnist at The New York Times, citing increasing editorial constraints and changes to his role that made the position untenable.
Krugman, who joined the Times in 2000, departed in December 2023 after what he describes as mounting frustrations with the editing process. "I approached Mondays and Thursdays with dread," Krugman revealed in a recent interview, pointing to what he perceived as intrusive editing that diluted his voice and perspective.
The breaking point came in September 2023 when Krugman was informed his newsletter would be discontinued. While Times opinion editor Kathleen Kingsbury offered to maintain the newsletter with reduced frequency, it came with a condition - his column would be cut to once weekly instead of twice. Krugman declined this arrangement.
The economist has since moved to Substack, where he publishes more frequently and with greater editorial freedom. His new platform has already attracted 100,000 subscribers, with some pieces reaching over 180,000 readers.
"Leaving has been a total liberation; no regrets at all," says Krugman, who plans to introduce a paid tier while keeping most content free. He believes his new format allows for more direct communication, including the use of graphics and technical explanations that were previously limited.
Times management, including publisher A.G. Sulzberger and opinion editor Kingsbury, maintain they wanted Krugman to stay. They deny any attempt to stifle his liberal voice, pointing to their continued coverage of political issues and presidential endorsements.
The departure marks the end of an era for both the Times and Krugman, who was known for his progressive economic analysis and willingness to challenge mainstream narratives, notably his early opposition to the Iraq War in 2003 and his supportive analysis of the Biden administration's economic policies.