“You and I come by road or rail, but economists travel on infrastructure.”
- October 13, 1925 – April 8, 2013
- British
- Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Politician, “The Iron Lady”
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Quote
“You and I come by road or rail, but economists travel on infrastructure.”
Explanation
In this quote, Margaret Thatcher uses a clever turn of phrase to highlight the critical but often overlooked importance of infrastructure in economic development. While ordinary people think in terms of roads, railways, and transportation, she points out that economists see these not merely as physical systems, but as fundamental components of a nation’s productivity and growth. Infrastructure, in this sense, becomes the backbone of a functioning economy, enabling movement, trade, and investment.
Thatcher’s remark reflects her broader belief in practical, foundational policy over abstract theorizing. Though she was a champion of free-market principles, she also recognized that markets rely on strong public frameworks—like transportation, communication, and utilities—to function effectively. Her policies often included efforts to modernize and streamline state-run infrastructure, particularly through privatization and deregulation, to ensure they operated efficiently and supported economic dynamism.
In modern contexts, this quote remains highly relevant as nations confront aging infrastructure, digital transformation, and climate adaptation. Economists today still emphasize that without roads, ports, energy grids, or broadband, even the best economic strategies cannot take root. Thatcher’s witty observation reminds us that progress requires not just ideas, but the concrete systems that carry them forward.
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