Canadian economist Peter Howitt is among the group of three researchers who won this year's Nobel Memorial Prize in economics.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced Monday that Howitt, along with Dutch-born Joel Mokyr and French Philippe Aghion, received the prize for “having explained innovation-driven economic growth."

Reached early Monday, Howitt said he was thrilled.

"It's just the dream of a lifetime come true," he said.

Howitt said he found out about the prize from a persistent Swedish reporter who called his wife's phone early in the morning, even before the committee could reach the economist.

By the time Howitt received his official notice from the committee, he already knew.

Howitt said his day was starting to look very different after the call.

"I'm going to be

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