--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why do economists fall in love with…" description: "\"Why do economists fall in love with authoritarian governments?\" — Yasheng Huang" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/yasheng-huang-287764_authoritarian_why-do-economists-fall-in-love-with-auth_223477.png" --- # Why do economists fall in love with authoritarian… ![“Why do economists fall in love with authoritarian governments?” quote by Yasheng Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/yasheng-huang-287764_authoritarian_why-do-economists-fall-in-love-with-auth_223477.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/yasheng-huang-287764_authoritarian_why-do-economists-fall-in-love-with-auth_223477.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/yasheng-huang-287764_authoritarian_why-do-economists-fall-in-love-with-auth_223477.png) > “Why do economists fall in love with authoritarian governments?” Yasheng Huang ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Economists may favor authoritarian regimes for perceived stability, despite valuing freedom. **In simple terms:** Economists sometimes like strong governments for order. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about governance and economics. Themes economics authoritarianism politics freedom stability Mood critical inquisitive Type analytical political When to use this quote - policy making - academic research - public discourse - media commentary Key Concepts political economy ideology policy analysis Questions to Reflect On - Why might stability appeal to economists? - How does authoritarianism affect economic freedom? A Different Perspective Authoritarian benefits can mask human rights abuses. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authoritarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authoritarian/) [Authoritarian government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authoritarian-government/) [Economist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economist/) [Economists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economists/) [Fall in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall-in-love/) [Falling in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-in-love/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [Someone is going to figure out how to make this work and when they do, all the anti-gambling, over-regulating authoritarian governments will be exposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-ayre/someone-is-going-to-figure-out-how-to-make-this-work-and-when-they-do/) [Calvin Ayre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-ayre/) > [Authoritarian governments are now trying to ensure that the increasingly free flow of ideas and information through cyberspace fuels their economies without threatening their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bremmer/authoritarian-governments-are-now-trying-to-ensure-that-the/) [Ian Bremmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bremmer/) > [Democracy acknowledges the right to differ as well as the duty to settle differences peacefully. Authoritarian governments see criticism of their actions and doctrines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/democracy-acknowledges-the-right-to-differ-as-well-as-the-duty-to/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [If the Socialism is Authoritarian; if there are Governments armed with economic power as they are now with political power; if, in a word,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-the-socialism-is-authoritarian-if-there-are-governments-armed-with/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [North Korea aside, most authoritarian governments have already accepted the growth of the Internet culture as inevitable; they have little choice but to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/north-korea-aside-most-authoritarian-governments-have-already/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [It is true that authoritarian governments increasingly see the Internet as a threat in part because they see the U.S. government behind the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/it-is-true-that-authoritarian-governments-increasingly-see-the/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [As an Asst. Secretary of State, I often urged authoritarian governments around the world not to use emergency powers to defy their legislatures, courts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-malinowski/as-an-asst-secretary-of-state-i-often-urged-authoritarian-governments/) [Tom Malinowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-malinowski/) > [We see the tendency in the world to criticise democracy and sometimes even to say that authoritarian countries like China are more efficient. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/we-see-the-tendency-in-the-world-to-criticise-democracy-and-sometimes/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [China is building a model for how an authoritarian government can survive the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/china-is-building-a-model-for-how-an-authoritarian-government-can/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [We say less things about Australians than Australians say about us, calling me a dictator, authoritarian government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/we-say-less-things-about-australians-than-australians-say-about-us/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [“To make no decision in regard to the growth of authoritarian government is already a decision for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-august-schaeffer/to-make-no-decision-in-regard-to-the-growth-of-authoritarian/) [Francis August Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-august-schaeffer/) > [When we talk about authoritarianism, we conjure up out-of-date visions from the 1930s. But we are no more likely to do authoritarian government the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/when-we-talk-about-authoritarianism-we-conjure-up-out-of-date-visions/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [Once people sense their own power, no authoritarian government can stand against the people who are determined to be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj/once-people-sense-their-own-power-no-authoritarian-government-can/) [Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj/) > [Economists think about what people ought to do. Psychologists watch what they actually do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/economists-think-about-what-people-ought-to-do-psychologists-watch/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [Our biggest challenge is to eliminate the popular perception that economists don't have anything useful to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zandi/our-biggest-challenge-is-to-eliminate-the-popular-perception-that/) [Mark Zandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zandi/) ## More Authoritarian quotes > [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [We very clearly do not want an authoritarian regime... setting standards in the world marketplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratcliffe/we-very-clearly-do-not-want-an-authoritarian-regime-setting-standards/) [John Ratcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratcliffe/) > [Cumulatively, American society is sliding toward a new form of 'authoritarian democracy'. Elections continue, free speech is generally protected, institutions operate in accordance with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/cumulatively-american-society-is-sliding-toward-a-new-form-of/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [“If you care about other people, that's now a very dangerous idea. If you care about other people, you might try to organize to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-care-about-other-people-that-s-now-a-very-dangerous-idea-if/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Democracy can exist only in the countries where people are brave! Coward nations always live under the authoritarian regimes!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/democracy-can-exist-only-in-the-countries-where-people-are-brave/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Even more than comparing society to a family, comparing it to a body makes an authoritarian ordering of society seem inevitable, immutable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/even-more-than-comparing-society-to-a-family-comparing-it-to-a-body/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [We are not and will never be an authoritarian regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/we-are-not-and-will-never-be-an-authoritarian-regime/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [“Just as in the Trump-Giuliani Ukraine conspiracy, we saw a ruthless, single-minded obsession with staying in power; a manifest lack of moral values, shame,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-yovanovitch/just-as-in-the-trump-giuliani-ukraine-conspiracy-we-saw-a-ruthless/) Marie Yovanovitch > [North Korea aside, most authoritarian governments have already accepted the growth of the Internet culture as inevitable; they have little choice but to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/north-korea-aside-most-authoritarian-governments-have-already/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [I am the first authoritarian government elected to become a dictator and then resigning as a dictator. So this is the first dictator in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/i-am-the-first-authoritarian-government-elected-to-become-a-dictator/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [There is an authoritarian strain in all of Leftism-- because the bigger the government, the more it controls other peoples' lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/there-is-an-authoritarian-strain-in-all-of-leftism-because-the-bigger/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [My position and the state will never allow me to become a dictator, but an authoritarian style of rule is characteristic of me, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lukashenko/my-position-and-the-state-will-never-allow-me-to-become-a-dictator/) [Alexander Lukashenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lukashenko/) > [You really don't create an authoritarian society unless you control the personal choices including the sexual choices of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/you-really-don-t-create-an-authoritarian-society-unless-you-control/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [The question is: Particularly in the post-9/11 era, are societies becoming more liberal or more authoritarian?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-question-is-particularly-in-the-post-9-11-era-are-societies/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [To be a parent, you must be authoritarian. If the Zambians want to succeed, they must learn to work hard, and they should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sata/to-be-a-parent-you-must-be-authoritarian-if-the-zambians-want-to/) [Michael Sata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sata/) [Browse all 185 Authoritarian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authoritarian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why do economists fall in love with authoritarian governments?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Yasheng Huang" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasheng-huang/why-do-economists-fall-in-love-with-authoritarian-governments/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Authoritarian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasheng-huang/why-do-economists-fall-in-love-with-authoritarian-governments/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/yasheng-huang-287764_authoritarian_why-do-economists-fall-in-love-with-auth_223477.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/yasheng-huang-287764_authoritarian_why-do-economists-fall-in-love-with-auth_223477.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/yasheng-huang-287764_authoritarian_why-do-economists-fall-in-love-with-auth_223477.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Why do economists fall in love with authoritarian governments?” — Yasheng Huang", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Yasheng Huang", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasheng-huang/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Why do economists fall in love...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasheng-huang/why-do-economists-fall-in-love-with-authoritarian-governments/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasheng-huang/why-do-economists-fall-in-love-with-authoritarian-governments/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```