The Conscience of a Liberal
Paul Krugman's 2007 history of American inequality, arguing that politics, not only technology, drove it.
At a glance
Key ideas
The Great Compression, Policy over technology, Movement conservatism …
See all 5Reception
The New York Review of Books, David M. Kennedy, The New York Times, Ludwig von Mises Institute
See all 3Connections
Also on this page: Key facts · Links · Sources · Related pages
- Krugman studies 80 years of American history through economic inequality.
- The gap between rich and poor narrowed sharply in mid-century, which he calls the "Great Compression", then widened again from the 1980s.
- He argues that government policy, the building and later attacks on the welfare state, played a much greater role than technology and trade.
- He traces the rise of "movement conservatism" and proposes a "new New Deal" with universal health care at its centre.
Why it matters
- It was a New York Times best seller and set out a widely discussed argument that inequality is shaped by politics and institutions.
Key facts
- Author
- Paul Krugman1
- Published
- 2007; paperback January 20091
- Best seller
- 24th on the New York Times Best Seller list in November 20071
- Title
- First used by Senator Paul Wellstone for his 2001 book, a reply to Barry Goldwater's The Conscience of a Conservative (1960)1
- Blog
- Also the name of Krugman's New York Times blog, from 20051
Key ideas
-
The Great Compression1
The gap between rich and poor shrank greatly in mid-century, then grew from the 1980s past 1920s levels.
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Policy over technology1
Government policy, more than technology and trade, narrowed the gap from the 1930s and widened it from the 1980s.
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Movement conservatism1
It won elections by exploiting racial and cultural resentments and national-security fears.
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Institutions and norms1
Labour unions and corporate norms matter alongside government policy in raising or lowering inequality.
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A new New Deal1
Democrats should put more weight on social and medical programmes, above all universal health care.
Reception
Connections
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