Recent commentary on the 2024 U.S. elections highlights a significant disconnect between the Democratic Party and community issues, reflecting broader trends in economic research. Over the last 50 years, there has been a notable shift in focus from state-related topics to civil society themes, which include firms, families, NGOs, and social movements. This change is attributed to the adoption of new empirical methods and an increased emphasis on social norms in economic interactions [1f77eba6].
The analysis of 27,436 articles from 1900 to 2014 reveals that post-1970, economic research has increasingly centered on civil society, indicating a growing recognition of the role that identity and social norms play in economic behavior. This evolution is also reflected in significant Nobel Prize awards, including those to Gunnar Myrdal (1974), Friedrich Hayek (1974), Herbert Simon (1978), and Claudia Goldin (2023), which underscore the importance of these themes in contemporary economic discourse [1f77eba6].
As the United States navigates its current political landscape, understanding these shifts in economic research could provide valuable insights into how policies can better align with community needs and social dynamics. The emphasis on civil society suggests that future economic strategies may benefit from incorporating the perspectives and contributions of various social actors, thereby fostering a more inclusive approach to economic development [1f77eba6].