Unintended Consequences: Why Everything You've Been Told About the Economy Is Wrong [Paperback]

Was our country’s economic success before the Crash of ‘08 built on false pretenses? Did we simply borrow and spend too much, or was something else really going on?

The conventional wisdom now accuses Wall Street and the mortgage industry of using predatory tactics to seduce homeowners. Meanwhile, average Americans are blamed for increasing consumption to unsustainable levels by borrowing recklessly. And the tax policies of the Reagan and Bush administrations are blamed for encouraging reckless risk-taking.

Edward Conard disagrees. In an attempt to set the record straight he presents a fascinating new case for how the economy really works, why the U.S. has outperformed other countries, what caused the financial crisis, and what improvements might better protect our economy without damaging growth.

“A full-throated defense of economic dynamism. . .refreshing at a time when so many take the failure of capitalism for granted.”
—The Wall Street Journal
 
“Conard offers deep and well-argued analyses on almost every issue.”
—The New York Times
 
“One of the must-read books of the year.” 
—TYLER COWEN, Marginal Revolution
 
“…the book, written by a former Bain partner, gives a good overview of the forces behind the financial crisis. It is far smarter and more thought-provoking than most economics written for the general public.”
—GREG MANKIW, Professor of Economics, Harvard University, Former Chairman of the Council on Economic Advisors
 
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