Paul Krugman, a Princeton University professor, New York Times columnist and frequent critic of the Bush administration?s policies, was awarded the Nobel Prize Monday for his theories on international trade.

Thirty years ago, Krugman began rejecting conventional thinking about trade. He also has his own take on what the United States should do to get out of the current recession.

?[The U.S. needs a] large-scale physical stimulus program, aid to state and local governments, infrastructure spending to get us out of the recession,? says Krugman. ?And then after all that, universal health care.?

Krugman has also written two dozen books, made appearances on national television talk shows and has won numerous awards for his work.

However, he says he wasn?t sure the phone call telling him he had won was real. ?My God, one Nobel Prize can discombobulate your whole day,? says Krugman.