Richard Thaler Quotes

Social science has been established not to set policy but to measure its results.

She may hide it, but Clinton is a policy nerd. Ask about microfinance, and she'll talk your ear off. Mention early childhood interventions, and she will gush about obscure details of a home visitation experiment in Elmira, N.Y., that dramatically improved child outcomes.

I wrote my thesis on welfare policy.

I want to be part of a different kind of celebrity, one that thinks not just about charity but policy.

If you don't have 30 years to devote to social policy, don't get involved.

Children have in the past and continue to influence policy makers.

When you look at our world, the truth is that we're all under the influence of politics.

Anyway, that was the germ of the idea and of course... you know this was early days of sociology and whatever, especially on television.

Policy makers, like most people, normally feel that they already know all the psychology and all the sociology they are likely to need for their decisions. I don't think they are right, but that's the way it is.

I was looking for a new challenge and got an interest in trying to make a difference for families. You become more aware of how important families are. They are the key institution in our culture. The reason I got into politics was to try to make a difference for that key institution, whether it was tax policy, education policy, or whatever.

I am in the process of trying to decide whether I can make a substantive and productive contribution to the policy-making process. I was always there because I wanted to work on the pressing issues of the day - I'm interested in energy, I'm interested in the climate bill and technology policy.

I think I can change things for the better in this country. I'm doing it now as well, in many areas, mostly in education, higher education and technological entrepreneurship. But I think I could do a lot more from a presidential position.

Governments will always play a huge part in solving big problems. They set public policy and are uniquely able to provide the resources to make sure solutions reach everyone who needs them. They also fund basic research, which is a crucial component of the innovation that improves life for everyone.

There is a circus around politics. But if you think it is a game, then you forget what the purpose of politics actually is.

Government is not an exact science.

Changing social policy is just dogged hard work.

Policies absent people have no meaning.

If you don’t have thirty years for a problem, don’t get involved in social policy.

The Social Security System is the one great social policy achievement of the twentieth century.

Policy making is not as easy as slurping down cabbage soup.

Today's public opinion, though it may appear as light as air, may be tomorrow's legislation-for better or for worse.

You can’t start a conversation about public policy by saying it is complex.

What you always do before you make a decision is consult. The best public policy is made when you are listening to people who are going to be impacted. Then, once a policy is determined, you call on them to help you sell it.

Good or bad, political choices have an impact on the way country’s behave.

For me, the passions and issues I care so much about are ones that lend themselves to work whether you're in government or outside of government.