Nobel Prize-winning economist, Joseph Stiglitz, shows no restraint when unleashing criticism of presidential policies—on both sides. Of President Barack Obama’s financial-industry rescue plan, Stiglitz gives scathing remarks, saying that whomever designed it was "either in the pocket of the banks or … incompetent."

Considered one of the most influential people in the world by TIME 100, Stiglitz grew up in Gary, Indiana and he talked to Alec about how that impacted his decision to become an economist.