Our political predicament is often framed as the gridlock resulting from polarization – the endless conflict between left and right. Accordingly, schemes to bridge or transcend this standoff have built-in appeal. We periodically witness the emergence of candidates or projects meant to energize some sort of new, vigorous ‘middle’ that can get to work solving problems while extremist, partisan bickering falls by the wayside.

The latest effort in this vein is the “liberaltarian” project, now elaborated in a new book by Brink Lindsey and Steven M. Teles entitled The Captured Economy: How the Powerful Enrich Themselves, Slow Down Growth, and Increase Inequality.

Lindsey hails from the libertarian Cato Institute, while Teles — the designated liberal in this partnership — is a professor of political science at Johns Hopkins University. Their mission is to provide an alternative to the demagogic populism of left and right, which they don’t trouble themselves to distinguish.