I think that one of the things that we all agree to is…
“I think that one of the things that we all agree to is that the touchstone for economic policy is, does it allow the average American to find good employment and see their incomes rise; that we can't just look at things in the aggregate, we do want to grow the pie, but we want to make sure that prosperity is spread across the spectrum of regions and occupations and genders and races; and that economic policy should focus on growing the pie, but it also has to make sure that everybody has got opportunity in that system.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Economic policy should prioritize broad-based employment and income growth, ensuring prosperity is shared across demographics rather than merely expanding total output.
In simple terms: Policy must spread prosperity, not just grow the economy.
Key Takeaway
Inclusive growth over aggregate growth.
Themes
economics
equity
employment
policy
Mood
optimistic
determined
Type
policy statement
political
When to use this quote
- regional development programs
- gender wage gap initiatives
- occupational training
Key Concepts
distributional justice
macroeconomic strategy
Practical Applications
- design targeted job‑creation incentives
- track income mobility metrics
Questions to Reflect On
- What metrics best capture shared prosperity?
- How can policy reconcile growth with equity?
A Different Perspective
Balancing aggregate growth with redistribution can be politically contentious and resource‑intensive.