Edward Conard

Top Ten New York Times Bestselling Author

  • “…serious thinking for serious thinkers. …a thought-provoking blueprint for growing middle- and working-class incomes.” - Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts
  • “…reminds us that inequality sends a signal of what society lacks most, in America’s case, entrepreneurship and risk taking.” - Lawrence Lindsey, CEO, The Lindsey Group, former Director of the National Economic Council
  • “There are an amazing number of good ideas and interesting points made in Unintended Consequences. The thinking underlying it, and the obvious depth of understanding of the author, are very impressive.” - Steven Levitt, coauthor of Freakonomics; 2004 John Bates Clark Medal
  • “Unintended Consequences provides a provocative interpretation of the causes of the global financial crisis and the policies needed to return to rapid growth. Whether you agree or not, this analysis is well worth reading.” - Nouriel Roubini, New York University; Chairman, Roubini Global Economics
  • “…a comprehensive explanation of the modern economy.” - Julian Robertson, Founder, Tiger Management
  • “A full-throated defense of economic dynamism.” - The Wall Street Journal
  • “…a comprehensive explanation of the modern economy.” - Julian Robertson, Founder, Tiger Management
  • “…a very valuable contribution.” - Larry Summers, former Secretary of the Treasury and director of the National Economic Council, president emeritus, Harvard University
  • “Unintended Consequences should be read by anyone who takes for granted the superiority of progressive taxation and has not thought carefully about the trade-offs involved.” - The New Republic
  • “…reminds us that inequality sends a signal of what society lacks most, in America’s case, entrepreneurship and risk taking.” - Lawrence Lindsey, CEO, The Lindsey Group, former Director of the National Economic Council
  • “…a must-read for serious students of economic policy.” - Glenn Hubbard, Dean, Columbia Business School, and former Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers
  • “…challenges misconceptions that distort our economic debates.” - Arthur Brooks, President of the American Enterprise Institute
Upside of Inequality Oxford Unintended Consequences
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Edward Conard on “Big Think”

Ed Conard: The Man Behind the ‘Most Hated Book in America’
Jonathan Fowler and Elizabeth Rodd | May 21, 2012

Due to his argument that income inequalty is a sign that the economy is working, The New York Times called former Bain Capital Managing Director Ed Conard’s book, Unintended Consequences: Why Everything You’ve Been Told About The Economy Is Wrong the “most hated book in America.”

In this far-ranging interview with Big Think’s CEO Victoria Brown, Conard discusses why he chose to speak out at the risk of embarrassing Romney, and how he responds to the attacks that have been leveled against Bain Capital.

Among the highlights: Conard said that if Mitt Romney can’t survive scrutiny of Bain Capital “he won’t be elected President.” As for The New York Times: “they misunderstood my book.” What about the criticism of Bain Capital’s acquisition of a steel company? “We killed ourselves at Bain trying to make the company work.”

https://bigthink.com/big-think-tv/ed-conard-the-man-behind-the-most-hated-book-in-america-video

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