RONALD REAGAN was fond of quoting Thomas Carlyle, the 19th-century British writer, who referred to economics as "the dismal science." I have a picture with the President and Mrs. Reagan, on which he added a teasing note thanking me for "explaining the 'dismal science' to Nancy." Working for Pres. Reagan turned out to be anything but dismal. This recounting of my White House experiences will substantiate thatI write this with the clear knowledge that few if any decisions in government policy-be they labeled economic or social or foreign affairs- are made solely or even primarily on the basis of economic analysis or information from economists. Yet, I also came away with the experience that most questions of governmental policyniak-ing-especially those labeled "noneconomic"- do contain important economic aspects and can involve economists in their solution.
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