[littlestymaar]

Having a Math degree doesn't make you a mathematician if you've stopped doing Math since then… That's even more true if, as Noah Smith, you got your diploma in order to become a pundit.

From his own words[1]:

> Back in 2006, the original reason I thought of getting an econ PhD was actually to become an econ pundit and writer.

If anything, he's a former economist (until 2016) who's now a pundit discussing many topics going way beyond his academic expertise (hence my “know-it all” moniker above).

[1]: http://noahpinionblog.blogspot.com/2016/04/life-update-leavi...

[aragonite]

Hey, don't knock Noah Smith. He's as much of an economist as Lex Fridman is a computer scientist. Check out his publications. ;)