Let me just note that for all the talk of wonk this, data that, and Generalized Method of Moments this that and the other, every now and then the best algorithm is simply Asking Tyler Cowen.
I certainly disagree with quantitative rankings that are based on mentions in social media, a methodology that picks up controversy and obsession with Fed officials.
Let me define influence as “effect on young minds.” I think that Paul Samuelson still has the most influence. Most economic textbooks are descendants of his. Milton Friedman has great influence. Most free-market rhetoric is derivative of his.
Living economists?
Steve Levitt. Not my cup of tea, but I have encountered a number of young women who are ardent admirers, which is something I cannot say about any other economist.
Daniel Kahneman. I know many economists and non-economists who have read Thinking Fast and Slow. Not just bought it because it was famous and stopped reading after a few pages, but got through the whole book.
Paul Krugman, for better or worse. If you look in the blogosphere and op-edsphere at the ratio of uncharitable to charitable treatment of those who disagree, then you have a measure of the ratio of his influence relative to mine.
Stan Fischer, for better or worse. The Genghis Khan of macroeconomics, as I put it.
Tyler Cowen. Where would the economics blogosphere be without him?
Paul Krugman is not as influential as people think. He is pandering. That is, he is mostly allowing himself to be influenced by our flawed two-party system.
Warren Buffett has a Master’s of economics, I guess back when business wasn’t so divorced from economics. That also makes me wonder if the most influential free market econ types tend to be participating in the market, focusing on finance or may even be lawyers (Posner, Thiel, etc.).