Policy by Objective

Long-term real median productivity growth per capita is the perfect economic objective. It creates a simple objective function to measure all policy options.

Yes, growth should be distributed relatively evenly. Yes, there should be equality of opportunity. But all of that is contained in the above definition.

Median is used instead of average, because it makes the middle class a mathematical necessity. Equality of opportunity is similarly necessary to increase the median (though not necessarily the average).

“Long term” is a required qualification, because it prevents dumb short-term stimuli, such as fighting foreign wars to increase domestic employment.

Comments are closed.