Harvard Professor Stefanie Stantcheva explores zero-sum thinking in Democrats and Republicans. Across American politics, one mindset shapes views on policy and society: the “zero-sum” mentality. Stefanie Stantcheva, Nathaniel Ropes Professor of Political Economy and Founder of the Social Economics Lab at Harvard University describes how zero-sum cognitive framing—exhibited by both Democrats and Republicans—profoundly influences debates on issues ranging from immigration, to taxation, to race- and gender-based affirmative action.

This belief holds that the gains of one individual or group come at the expense of another—the “pie” of resources is fixed, and any larger slice for one must mean a smaller share for everyone else. This worldview contrasts with the notion of a “positive-sum” society, where collective prosperity can grow to include all players. Stancheva’s lab reveals a striking finding: zero-sum thinking is not confined to one political party. It exists on both sides of the ideological divide, and while it appears differently depending on the issue, it always impacts political discourse and policy.