RESTORE TRUST
A Political Economist's Search for Practical Solutions to America's Economic Divisions
Why can Americans work full-time and still struggle to make ends meet? Why do expanding social programs coexist with persistent poverty and economic insecurity? And what kinds of economic reforms could help restore public confidence in government?
In RESTORE TRUST, political economist Werner Neff examines the connection between economic policy, social welfare, and public trust in American institutions.
Drawing on his background in economics, political science, and banking, Neff explores minimum wages, poverty, taxation, health care, retirement security, government spending, corporate influence, and the economic pressures facing working and middle-class Americans.
Rather than treating these issues as isolated political controversies, RESTORE TRUST asks readers to examine how they interact. When wages are insufficient, public assistance may fill the gap. When economic policies appear unfair or ineffective, confidence in institutions can decline. And when citizens lose trust in government, democracy itself faces greater strain.
Written for general readers rather than specialists, RESTORE TRUST offers a political economist's perspective on some of America's most persistent economic and social challenges.
The objective is not partisan victory, but a larger question: How can economic policy better serve citizens while helping rebuild trust in the institutions of American democracy?
Economic Solutions to Current Social and Political Issues in the U.S.
What the Book Explores
RESTORE TRUST examines questions involving:
Poverty and the working poor
Minimum wages and government assistance
Social Security and retirement security
Health care
Inflation and the cost of living
Taxes and government spending
Economic inequality
Government subsidies
The relationship between economic policy and public trust
The responsibilities of citizens and government in a democratic society
Throughout the book, Neff considers how policies intended to solve one problem can sometimes create another—and how different economic structures might produce different results.
Beyond Partisan Arguments
Economic and social policy is often discussed as a contest between political parties.
RESTORE TRUST takes a different approach.
The central question is not which political side should win, but whether public policies accomplish what they are intended to accomplish.
What are the incentives?
Who pays?
Who benefits?
What are the unintended consequences?
Is there a more effective and sustainable alternative?
The book invites readers to examine these questions critically and reach their own conclusions.
Why Trust Matters
A democratic government ultimately depends on more than laws, elections, and institutions. It also depends on citizens having confidence that those institutions can address important public problems fairly and effectively.
When economic policies repeatedly leave people frustrated, insecure, or dependent on systems they do not understand, public trust can suffer.
RESTORE TRUST explores the connection between economic policy and that larger question of confidence in government.
The objective is not simply to criticize existing policies. It is to encourage discussion about alternatives.
What Reviewers Have Said
Independent reviewers have recognized RESTORE TRUST for combining economic analysis with practical questions affecting everyday Americans.
Readers' Favorite described the book as well researched and noted that it connects economic issues with problems of daily life while remaining accessible to readers beyond professional economists.
OnlineBookClub praised its extensive research and comprehensive treatment of American social and economic issues.
The book has also generated discussion among readers interested in economics, government, public policy, and the future of American democracy.
About Werner Neff
Werner Neff is an author and political economist.
Born and educated in Switzerland, he earned a master's degree in economics from the University of St. Gallen and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Freie Universität Berlin.
Before becoming an author, Neff worked in the hospitality industry and later held an executive position in the mortgage and lending division of a major Swiss bank.
After retiring, he moved to the United States with his American wife and settled in Colorado.
His experience in Europe and the United States gives him a comparative perspective on economics, government, social policy, and democratic institutions.
His books include:
RESTORE TRUST
RESTORE OUR DEMOCRACY, and
THE FOUNDERS' WARNING.
His broader mission is civic education: encouraging Americans to understand their institutions, examine public policy thoughtfully, and participate constructively in the continuing work of self-government.
Who Should Read RESTORE TRUST?
This book is written for readers interested in:
Economics and public policy • American government • Social Security and retirement • Poverty and economic opportunity • Health-care policy • Taxation • Democratic institutions • Civic education • Public trust
You do not need to be an economist to read RESTORE TRUST.
The book is intended for citizens who want to understand why certain economic problems persist, consider alternative approaches, and form their own conclusions about policies affecting the country's future.
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RESTORE TRUST
Economic Solutions to Current Social and Political Issues in the U.S.
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Less ideology. More examination of how policies actually work.
RESTORE TRUST invites readers to reconsider the relationship between sound economic policy, effective government, and public confidence.