Austerity is not a coherent doctrine but derivative of scattered state-role beliefs

Evidence

As we shall see, its intellectual history is both short and indirect. Austerity is not a well worked-out body of ideas and doctrine, an integral part of economic, or any other, theory. Rather, it is derivative of a wider set of beliefs about the appropriate role of the state in the economy that lie scattered around classical and contemporary economic theory. — Mark Blyth, Austerity, 66

Categorization

• DEFINE: Key definitional move: austerity is derivative, not a standalone body of ideas.
• XREF: Directly relevant to Mattei’s austerity historiography — supports the claim that austerity is a mobilization of older ideas. — connects to: Locke’s minimalist state foundation structurally generates the austerity dilemma — Mark Blyth, Austerity: The History of a Dangerous…, 283; Austerity politics rest on the belief that democracy cannot produce sound economic policy — Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order: How Economists…, 1581; Expert austerity framing blocked post-war moves toward economic democracy — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism, 161 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Austerity politics rest on the belief that democracy cannot produce sound economic policy #exemplifies (0.80) — Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order, 1581
• Locke’s minimalist state foundation structurally generates the austerity dilemma #expands (0.75) — Mark Blyth, Austerity, 283
• Expert austerity framing blocked post-war moves toward economic democracy #exemplifies (0.72) — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism, 161