Economists are prone to blaming politics for getting in the way when outcomes predicted by their narrow theories don't come about. Others argue that economists must precisely understand how prevailing political forces must shape their policy prescriptions. I once had a mild philosophical debate with a colleague on the question of appropriate policy. I maintained that the "right policy" is where good economics would lead us after considering prevailing political circumstances. On the other hand, she insisted that "right policy" is what good economics would prescribe, period-what we economists call the "first-best" solution-but we must work to eliminate the political hurdles to getting there.