Justin Wolfers founds Platypus Economics media start-up
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 6
Justin Wolfers founds Platypus Economics media start-up
4 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 6
The 53-year-old University of Michigan economist said on Wednesday he is self-funding the venture with income from textbook sales.
The independent company aims to teach economics to a mainstream audience, extending Wolfers's public profile beyond academia and cable television.
Wolfers said he decided after Donald Trump's 2024 re-election, which he believed closed possible Washington roles for him and partner Betsey Stevenson.
Can a professor's textbook profits fuel a media venture to rival traditional news?
Will 'Platypus Economics' challenge the field's ideas or just repackage them for clicks?