<P>Throughout Joseph Stiglitz's long and distinguished career in economics, the focus has been on the real world, with all of its imperfections. His 2001 Nobel Prize recognized his pioneering research in imperfect information; his work in other areas, including macroeconomics, public economics, and development economics, has been just as influential. This volume, a collection of essays written to mark Stiglitz's sixtieth birthday, reflects the wide-ranging influence of "Stiglitzian" economics. The many distinguished contributors are his teachers, students, and coauthors; their participation testifies to the personal and professional impact of Joseph Stiglitz's contributions to contemporary economic thought.</P>