Jul 18, 2019
In the 1980s, supply-side economics became a rallying cry of
conservative politicians. This macroeconomic theory posits that
lower taxes and decreased regulation can lead to economic growth,
helping everyone on the income ladder as benefits to the rich
“trickle down” to those less well-off. Monica Prasad joins Julian
Zelizer and Sam Wang in this episode to discuss her new book,
“Starving the Beast: Ronald Reagan and the Tax Cut Revolution.”
Referencing archival documents from the Regan Library in Simi
Valley, California, the book investigates President Ronald Reagan’s
1981 supply-side tax cut, offering a new understanding of how it
has influenced today’s political landscape and what the true
motivators are for the most recent round of tax cuts. Prasad is a
professor of sociology and director of graduate studies at
Northwestern University. Her previous books include “The Land of
Too Much,” “The Politics of Free Markets” and “The New Fiscal
Sociology.”