Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This recording is presented in partnership by Princeton Public Library and Labyrinth Books. Economist Misty Heggeness discusses her book, "Swiftynomics" which views pop culture through a feminist lens and illuminates how women influence and shape the economy.
About the book (from the publisher):
"Swiftynomics: How Women Mastermind and Redefine Our Economy" assesses the complex economic lives of everyday American women. Through the stories of women like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Dolly Parton, Misty Heggeness explores how the successes of celebrities can help us understand the central role of women in today's economy.
Through extensively researched data, Heggeness reveals women's hidden contributions, aspirations, and the largely unexamined value they bring to the economy by pursuing their own ambitions. She highlights the abundance of productive activity in women’s daily lives and acknowledges their unique economic barriers. Exploring critical reforms regarding caregiving and gendered labor, this book demonstrates how women can thrive in an economy that was not built for them.
About the Author:
Misty L. Heggeness is a proud Swiftie and an economist who studies the intersection of gender, poverty, inequality, and the high-skilled workforce. Her research has been featured in "The New York Times," "The Wall Street Journal," NPR, "The Economist," and "Science"—and has helped shape federal policy over the past decade.
She is the founder and co-director of the Kansas Population Center, an associate professor of economics and public affairs, and an associate research scientist at the Institute for Policy and Social Research at the University of Kansas.
She is also innovator and founder of The Care Board, a dashboard of economic statistics on care.
This event was recorded on March 02, 2026.
This recording is presented in partnership by Princeton Public Library and Labyrinth Books. Economist Misty Heggeness discusses her book, "Swiftynomics" which views pop culture through a feminist lens and illuminates how women influence and shape the economy.
About the book (from the publisher):
"Swiftynomics: How Women Mastermind and Redefine Our Economy" assesses the complex economic lives of everyday American women. Through the stories of women like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Dolly Parton, Misty Heggeness explores how the successes of celebrities can help us understand the central role of women in today's economy.
Through extensively researched data, Heggeness reveals women's hidden contributions, aspirations, and the largely unexamined value they bring to the economy by pursuing their own ambitions. She highlights the abundance of productive activity in women’s daily lives and acknowledges their unique economic barriers. Exploring critical reforms regarding caregiving and gendered labor, this book demonstrates how women can thrive in an economy that was not built for them.
About the Author:
Misty L. Heggeness is a proud Swiftie and an economist who studies the intersection of gender, poverty, inequality, and the high-skilled workforce. Her research has been featured in "The New York Times," "The Wall Street Journal," NPR, "The Economist," and "Science"—and has helped shape federal policy over the past decade.
She is the founder and co-director of the Kansas Population Center, an associate professor of economics and public affairs, and an associate research scientist at the Institute for Policy and Social Research at the University of Kansas.
She is also innovator and founder of The Care Board, a dashboard of economic statistics on care.
This event was recorded on March 02, 2026.
