His Nobel citation says,
The insights provided by Deaton’s work on consumption and income have had a lasting influence on
modern macroeconomic research. Previous researchers in macroeconomics, from Keynes onwards, had
relied only on aggregate data. Even if their purpose is to understand relationships at a macro level, today’s
researchers usually start at the individual level and then, with great caution, add together individual
behaviors to compute numbers for the entire economy.
And what does Arnold say?
Russ Roberts has an interview with him that you can pull up and listen to. Fascinating interview and you can draw your own conclusions about his ability to approach economic research. EconTalk has interviewed many Economist’s before they won their Nobel Prize. You can also find Eugene farmers interview from a few years back.