Not theories, it's what we want.

"Why were democratic political systems not responsive early enough to the grievances that autocratic populists have successfully exploited -- inequality and economic anxiety, decline of perceived social status, the chasm between elites and ordinary citizens?" asked Prof D Rodrik. "In principle, greater inequality produces a demand for redistribution. Democratic politicians should respond by imposing higher taxes on the wealthy and spending proceeds on the less well off." "The axioms underpinning traditional economics embody a view of human behaviour known as homo economicus: we choose among available options that which we want or prefer the most," wrote Prof R Hausmann. We humans "are the most cooperative species on earth" and we like to belong to "social categories -- for example, being a Christian, a father, a mason, a neighbour, or a sportsman". "The new revolution in economics may find a place for strategies based on affecting ideals and identities, not just taxes and subsidies." That is the famous 'nudge theory' that won the Nobel Prize for Richard Thaler last year. The best example of nudging people to alter their behavior to help society is the notion of 'opting out' of donating organs for transplant rather than of 'opting in', as at present. In countries, such as Austria, where opting out has become the law, the number of organs available for donation has jumped. But, it is possible that opting out is intentionally made so difficult that people give up trying. Many companies are already using nudge theory to alter behavior so as to increase their profits. These have been labeled 'dark nudges', "such as subprime mortgages with ballooning interest rates or complex mobile phone contracts". "Many companies are nudging purely for their own profit and not in customers' best interests," wrote Thaler in 2015. Nudge theory is "another classic example of great academic research put into practice in a way that was never intended or foreseen especially with the changes in technology that are around now," said J Coughlin. Those who increase taxes on the wealthy and redistribute that money are democratic while those who reduce corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% in an effort to increase production and jobs are "autocratic populists". Professors don't understand why workers and unions voted for Donald Trump last November. Perhaps people are not stupid. They see how the redistribution policies of Hugo Chavez has driven Venezuela to starvation. This year is the anniversary of the October Revolution which started with such promise but degenerated into tyranny. Perhaps it would be best to stop arguing between left and right and ask the people instead. That will be true democracy.