Simplify the following text for a Grade 11 native English-speaking person.
Original: Discussions with fellow Nobel prize winners Amartya Sen and Kenneth Arrow , and especially the influence of the philosophy of John Rawls , whom he met during the year at the Center , led Phelps to undertake some research outside macroeconomics .
Simplified: Meeting with Nobel prize winners Amartya Sen and Kenneth Arrow , and reading the work of John Rawls , whom he met during that year , gave Professor Phelps an interest to research outside of macroeconomics .