Because creating the blockchain hasn't yet been shown to have either advanced the field of the study of economics, or increased our understanding of economics. It is often years later that economists are awarded.
Giving an award for Bitcoin right now would seem more like giving an award to the financial institutions that created securitized loan products before the housing crisis. Right now it seems more like a novelty technology that hasn't yet made itself relevant for long-term innovation except to generate excitement about it.
And you underestimate that you still can't give someone an award who does not exist to receive it.
> And you underestimate that you still can't give someone an award who does not exist to receive it.
Which is what baffles me. I thought we should be honouring ideas and the people who created/discovered them (whether or not they exist to receive the award). It's weird that people get more precedence over ideas. What's worse is that the prize isn't awarded posthumously as well!
Giving an award for Bitcoin right now would seem more like giving an award to the financial institutions that created securitized loan products before the housing crisis. Right now it seems more like a novelty technology that hasn't yet made itself relevant for long-term innovation except to generate excitement about it.
And you underestimate that you still can't give someone an award who does not exist to receive it.