Stockholm: Americans Paul R Milgrom and Robert B Wilson have won the Nobel Prize in economics for improvements to auction theory and inventions of new auction formats.

The winners were announced Monday in Stockholm by Goran Hansson, secretary-general of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

The award caps a week of Nobel Prizes at a time when much of the world is experiencing the worst recession since World War II because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Technically known as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, the award was established in 1969 and is now widely considered one of the Nobel prizes.

Last year's award went to two researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a third from Harvard University, for their groundbreaking research into efforts to reduce global poverty.

Few economists could have predicted last fall that the globe would come to a virtual standstill within months, as governments closed their borders, imposed lockdowns and ordered other measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, triggering a sharp dip in business activity worldwide.

The prestigious award comes with a 10-million krona (USD 1.1 million) cash prize and a gold medal. On Monday, the Nobel Committee awarded the prize for physiology and medicine for discovering the liver-ravaging hepatitis C virus.

Tuesday's prize for physics honoured breakthroughs in understanding the mysteries of cosmic black holes, and the chemistry prize on Wednesday went to scientists behind a powerful gene-editing tool.

The literature prize was awarded to American poet Louise Gl ck on Thursday for her candid and uncompromising work. The World Food Programme won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for its effort to combat hunger worldwide.

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Bengaluru (PTI): Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday paid a visit to veteran politician and former chief minister S M Krishna, who is undergoing treatment at a private hospital here, and wished him a speedy recovery.

The hospital where the 91-year-old was admitted last week said he had come in with a "minor ailment" and is medically stable.

He is recovering well and there is no need for worry, Manipal Hospitals said, adding that he is being treated by a team of medical experts.

"S M Krishna is our former chief minister; I have worked with him as minister in the state, he was minister with me at the Centre. On getting to know about his ill health I have come to see him and wish him a speedy recovery and quick improvement in his health," Kharge said.

While speaking to reporters here after meeting Krishna, he said, "He is improving, he is speaking and enquired with me as to when I came and other things. There is improvement. He has had a disciplined life since the beginning; naturally he will improve quickly. He is strong mentally and physically. Doctors also are taking care."

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too had visited the elderly Congress leader at the hospital yesterday evening and enquired about his health.

Krishna was reportedly admitted to another super-speciality hospital in the city earlier this month, as he suffered an acute respiratory infection, and was discharged after treatment.

Krishna was chief minister from October 11, 1999 to May 28, 2004. He has also served as External Affairs Minister during the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance government from 2009 to 2012, and also as Maharashtra Governor.