Swiftynomics
How Women Mastermind and Redefine Our Economy
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected Jan 27, 2026
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- $18.99
Publisher Description
A feminist romp through pop culture that illuminates how women influence and shape the economy.
Taylor Swift isn't just a pop megastar. She is a working woman whose astounding accomplishments defy patriarchal norms. And while not all women can be Beyoncé or Dolly Parton or Reese Witherspoon, the successes of these trailblazing stars help us understand the central role of women in today's economy.
Swiftynomics assesses the complex economic lives of everyday American women through the stories of groundbreakers like Taylor Swift, Misty L. Heggeness digs into the data, revealing women's hidden contributions and aspirations—the unexamined value they create by pursuing their own ambitions. She highlights the abundance of productive activity in their daily lives and acknowledges the barriers they still face.
Exploring critical reforms regarding caregiving and gendered labor, this book offers advice for women to thrive in an economy that was not built for them.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Economist Heggeness's astute debut analyzes the role women play in the economy through the lens of billionaire pop star Taylor Swift and other female trailblazers. Coining the term "Swiftynomics," which she defines as "the power of harnessing women's experiences and voices to advance economic growth, development, and equity," Heggeness traces how Swift's recent Eras Tour generated billions in consumer spending and established her as an economic force. From there, Heggeness analyzes the tactics that make Swift successful, such as her ability to continually reinvent herself—as when she shifted from country music to pop—to stay relevant and her willingness to forge her own path despite public criticism and doubt. Also examined are the forces that hold women back, such as misogyny and the devaluation of women's work, which often includes unpaid labor as caregivers. Throughout, Heggeness weaves in stories of women in other fields making an impact, such as Emily Ramshaw and Amanda Zamora, who started The 19th*, a newsroom dedicated to covering stories that affect women. The balance of academic rigor and pop-culture verve makes complex economic ideas both digestible and entertaining. Readers will appreciate this smart fusion of cultural analysis and feminist economics.
