Thinking Like an Economist

In Thinking like an Economist, Elizabeth Popp Berman explores how an "economic style of reasoning" emerged as a dominant force in Washington from the 1960s to the 1980s, leading to a narrowing of public policy debates. This approach, introduced by liberal technocrats, emphasized efficiency and often aligned more with Republicans than with progressive Democrats advocating for rights and equality. Berman argues that to break free from this past, the resurgent political left must challenge the prevailing norms of economic efficiency and embrace new frameworks for policy advocacy.