"Makes a simple but quietly radical point: you cannot understand the modern economy—or the future of work—without understanding what is happening in women’s economic lives." — Inc.com
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.
Misty L. Heggeness is co-director of the Kansas Population Center, Associate Professor of Economics and Public Affairs at the University of Kansas, and former Principal Economist and Senior Advisor at the US Census Bureau. She is also creator of The Care Board, a dashboard of economic statistics built by and for caregivers that brings their economic contributions into the fold.
"Take a personal Eras tour with Swiftynomics and musically meander across the history of women in the economy, society, and family. Being a Swiftie has never been more meaningful."—Claudia Goldin, Harvard University, and Nobel Prize–winning author of Career and Family: Women's Century-Long Journey toward Equity
"Swiftynomics is the rallying cry we didn't know we needed. It's smart, fun, and asks exactly the right question: What happens when women own their economic power? Misty Heggeness shows us that whether you're filling stadiums or juggling three jobs while caregiving, you're part of a revolution. This book will leave you feeling seen—and ready to shake things up."—Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code and Moms First, and author of Pay Up: The Future of Women and Work (and Why It's Different Than You Think)
"No one understands the Swift Effect quite like Misty Heggeness. With sharp analytical insight, she weaves together data and cultural lore to show how Taylor Swift and her contemporaries are rewriting the rules of the economy. Swiftynomics is a playbook for the rule breakers, the storytellers, and the dreamers determined to change the end game.” —Cody Broadway, NBC Universal executive producer of The Swift Effect
"This upbeat and irreverent tribute to feminist economics shows what a can-do attitude can do: make big ideas sing."—Nancy Folbre, author of Making Care Work: Why Our Economy Should Put People First
"Reading Misty Heggeness is like talking to a smart, funny, deeply knowledgeable friend. She shows us how a path to an abundant, prosperous society runs through women: as producers, consumers, storytellers, entrepreneurs, professors, change artists, and moms. Our era is now!"—Anne-Marie Slaughter, Bert G. Kerstetter '66 University Professor Emerita of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University
256 pp.6 x 9Illus: 4 figures, 1 map
9780520403116$26.95|£23.00Hardcover
Jan 2026