Nouriel Roubini: The most or the least influential thinker of 2009?

From left: Nouriel Roubini, Sheila Bair, Bernie Madoff, Jamie Dimon

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Nouriel Roubini ranks first among “scientists and thinkers” on Time magazine’s list of the most influential people of 2009, but columnist Joel Stein begs to differ. “You predicted the housing bubble before it happened?” he wrote. “Well, that might make you the least influential person in the entire world. I predicted the Yankees need a set-up man. I guess I’m an influencer too.” Also of note on Time’s annual list: CEO Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase, No. 13 among “builders and titans;” the FDIC’s Sheila Bair and Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff, coming in at 14th and 20th, respectively, on the same list; and architects Elizabeth Diller and Ricardo Scofidio of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, 10th among “artists and entertainers.”