Gunnar Myrdal was a Swedish economist and sociologist, born on December 6, 1898. He is best known for his work on the relationship between economics and social issues, particularly in his influential book, An American Dilemma, published in 1944. Myrdal's research highlighted the contradictions between American democratic ideals and the realities of racial discrimination. In 1974, Myrdal was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to economic theory and social science. His work emphasized the importance of considering social factors in economic analysis, influencing fields such as development economics and public policy.