A New Paradigm for Economic Policy and the Role of Mainstream Economics
Dani Rodrik
‘Productivism’ is a new approach to economic policy that prioritizes the dissemination of productive economic opportunities throughout all regions of the economy and segments of the labor force. In contrast to neoliberalism, it gives governments a significant role in achieving that goal. In contrast to the Keynesian welfare state, it focuses less on redistribution, social transfers, and macroeconomic management. And unlike both neoliberalism and Keynesianism, it is more skeptical towards technocrats and less hostile to populism in the economic sphere. Mainstream economics can be this paradigm’s ally, rather than its enemy.