Free Lunch Thinking : 8 Economic myths and why politicians fall for them

Countries with smaller governments grow faster. Tobacco taxes are the best way to cut smoking.

Government regulation discourages entrepreneurship. Award-winning investigative journalist Tom Bergin digs into eight mantras widely accepted by Western governments and, by talking to the people who promote those ideas and the workers, businesspeople and consumers who have felt their impacts, finds they often don’t play out as expected. Smart, funny and incisive, Free Lunch Thinking is essential reading for anyone who really wants to know how economies tick – and why they often don’t. ‘I couldn’t put it down. A thorough and nuanced examination of the evolution of supply side economics . . .

I loved it.’ Arthur Laffer, creator of the Laffer Curve’An entertaining and thought-provoking exploration of economic theories that have been both widely accepted and largely wrong . . . I devoured it in a couple of sittings.’ Reuters Breakingviews’An insightful account of the recent history of economic thought. If you are looking for a book which challenges you without being annoying – make it this one.’ Institute of Economics Affairs