Rathin Roy, lecturer at London University said "the prize is long overdue ..and hopefully by giving it to an economic philosopher it also recognises that economics is about more than second rate math and second rate physics".For many Sen's philosophical critique of the conceptual foundations of economics and his humanitarian approach to the discipline is what made his contribution outstanding.

Geoffrey Harcourt at Cambridge University, and a contemporary of Sen when he was a student at the university said, "this is a wonderfulsignal .. Amartya works on the sorts of issues that economists should work on .. he is in the same league as people like Smith, Ricardo, Marx, Kenes and Kalecki..."Lord Meghnad Desai, Professor at the LSE said that the prize recognised Sen's contribution "to make economics serve some human purpose in a unique manner .. His work has spanned social choice .. economic development, famine and poverty, he has contributed to human philosophy and rigorous economics with the aim of bettering the lot of the people."

Professor Ben Fine, at the School of Oriental and African Studies said "Sen's award is long overdue. He stands head and shoulders above other economists of his generation" Professor Fine whose Ph.D. was supervised by Sen added.

His breadth of scholarship stands in sharp contrast to previous laureates as does his capacity to address major issues of our time in ways that reflect the real world rather than depart from it."