His latest book, Is the Youth Vote Liberal? Analyzing attitudes toward business and regulation,” Zachary Cook, assistant professor of political science at Lake Forest College, challenges widespread stereotypes about the economic beliefs of young Americans.
Based on extensive research from the Great Depression to the present, Cook provides a nuanced understanding of young people’s perspectives on government economic intervention.
Contrary to popular assumptions, Cook argues that young Americans cannot be reliably categorized as liberals. Rather, his research shows that while they express confidence in the government’s ability to improve economic outcomes for all and effectively regulate businesses, their views are more suggests that it is also complex.
Cook’s analysis incorporates more than 100 studies and insights from campaign experts who worked on the campaigns of Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders, and finds that young voters have some understanding of the role of government in the economy. It is clear that he shows idealism. Despite their skepticism about current political leaders, they believe in the government’s ability to bring about positive change.
Importantly, Cook emphasizes that young voters are not hostile to capitalism. They reject the notion that we have to choose between supporting big government and big business, and they offer a more nuanced understanding of the economic system.
University of Notre Dame scholar David Campbell praised Cooke’s book for its careful approach to understanding the economic views of young voters. Campbell praised Cook for bringing data and nuance to a topic often clouded by unsubstantiated opinions. “Whereas many pundits gloat (often without evidence) about ‘kids these days,’ Zachary Cook brings nuance and data to young people’s issues!” Think about the problem. Contrary to conventional wisdom, they are not radical socialists. But they are also not ardent free marketers. Anyone who wants to understand youth voting should absorb the lessons of this book. ”
