The Political Influence of Zero-Sum Thinking

The article centers academic research while maintaining a libertarian-leaning editorial posture characteristic of Reason. The framing suggests zero-sum thinking is a cognitive bias worth reconsidering—particularly on immigration—implying readers should adopt a more expansionist view. While the sourcing is research-based, the conclusion subtly advocates for policy reconsideration rather than neutrally reporting findings.

Primary voices: academic or expert, media outlet

• This article does not address whether zero-sum concerns about resource competition, labor markets, or fiscal impacts reflect genuine trade-offs versus cognitive distortion
• This article does not specify which immigration policies the study's findings actually support or how findings vary by context