Summary of Elizabeth Popp Berman's Thinking like an Economist

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 While Obama was able to resolve the 2008 financial crisis and slow the rate of economic decline, many of his supporters anticipated that he would usher in significant policy change. However, Obama’s presidency was largely continuity with the recent past. #2 The Obama administration, despite coming to power during a crisis, did not pursue more fundamental change. It remained committed to an incrementalist, modestly ambitious vision of government, even as the country faced unprecedented challenges. #3 The Democratic Party’s commitment to a market-friendly, technocratic approach to policy since 1990 has many sources, including the influence of the tech and finance industries within the national Democratic Party. #4 The results of this turn continue to play out in politics today. Material interests play a significant role in determining which ideas get political attention, but once a particular intellectual framework is institutionalized, it can become extremely difficult to change.