Dani Rodrik — The Tyranny of Political Economy

There are three ways in which ideas shape interests. First, ideas determine how political elites define themselves and the objectives they pursue – money, honor, status, longevity in power, or simply a place in history. These questions of identity are central to how they choose to act.

Second, ideas determine political actors’ views about how the world works....

Most important from the perspective of policy analysis, ideas determine the strategies that political actors believe they can pursue.

Project Syndicate
The Tyranny of Political Economy
Dani Rodrik | Professor of International Political Economy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government