How one author is hoping Taylor Swift will bring more women into economics
- - How one author is hoping Taylor Swift will bring more women into economics
Bryan West, USA TODAY NETWORKFebruary 5, 2026 at 6:01 AM
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Economist and author Misty Heggeness has a clear mission behind her new book "Swiftynomics": make economics more engaging, more accessible and more inviting for girls and women.
"I want more women to go into the field of economics," she said over Zoom. "I want more women to see themselves as economic agents."
The Overland Park, Kansas, author first felt the spark to write during the pandemic, when she was a research economist at the United States Census Bureau. As she began producing her own statistics on mothers' labor force participation, she was surprised at how much she enjoyed translating economics for a wider audience. At the same time, she found herself inspired by Taylor Swift's creative surge for her "Folklore" and "Evermore" albums.
"I had been paying much closer attention to her career since 2019 when I saw the music video for 'The Man,'" she said.
Misty Heggeness is an economics professor at the University of Kansas. She authored the book "Swiftynomics."
By early 2022, she knew Swift would be the "muse" through whom she could tell a bigger story about modern women in the economy.
Her writing process unfolded slowly but joyfully. After signing with the University of California Press in summer 2022, she spent nights, Saturday mornings and Sunday mornings drafting chapters while her teenagers slept in. She didn't retreat to a fellowship or take leave from teaching at the University of Kansas. She simply wrote whenever life allowed.
"Writing this book gave me so much joy," she said. "I love interpreting. I want more women to find a space for themselves in either studying economics or thinking like an economist."
That same mission now fuels her class at Kansas, "The Economics of Taylor Swift."
The gender split stunned even her.
Misty Heggeness authored "Swiftynomics: How Women Mastermind and Redefine Our Economy." The book was released in January 2026.
"I've got three young men in my class and the rest are young women," she said. Yet when her class clears out and the next, Introduction to Microeconomics, files in, "it's three young ladies and the rest are young men."
For Heggeness, the contrast proves her point: If economics were taught in a way that met young women where they were, more would stay.
The book may draw inspiration from the Eras Tour mastermind, but it's geared toward her fandom of Swifties. Heggeness titled it "Swiftynomics" — joking it should "probably be Swiftienomics, but the 'ie' didn't initially look as nice."
When asked what she'd tell Swift if given the chance, Heggeness didn’t hesitate.
"I would honestly just want to tell her how proud I am of her," she said. "I'm so happy that people like her exist."
To order "Swiftynomics: How Women Mastermind and Redefine Our Economy," go to swiftynomics.com.
Melissa Ruggieri writes. Here are some of the lyrics on the album that nod to Travis Kelce.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>In "The Life of a Showgirl," Taylor Swift shows she's a woman in love and "proudly flaunts the physical and emotional attributes of her man," USA TODAY critic Melissa Ruggieri writes. Here are some of the lyrics on the album that nod to Travis Kelce.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/DmOjuQ_r8ohT6L1M52gvNQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5813552a0c11ccb347a45c64099c594a class=caas-img data-headline="Taylor Swift's most notable lyrics about Travis Kelce on 'The Life of a Showgirl'" data-caption="
In "The Life of a Showgirl," Taylor Swift shows she's a woman in love and "proudly flaunts the physical and emotional attributes of her man," USA TODAY critic Melissa Ruggieri writes. Here are some of the lyrics on the album that nod to Travis Kelce.
">In "The Life of a Showgirl," Taylor Swift shows she's a woman in love and "proudly flaunts the physical and emotional attributes of her man," USA TODAY critic Melissa Ruggieri writes. Here are some of the lyrics on the album that nod to Travis Kelce.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/DmOjuQ_r8ohT6L1M52gvNQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5813552a0c11ccb347a45c64099c594a class=caas-img>— Taylor Swift, "Ophelia"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>"I swore loyalty to me, myself and I / Right before you lit my sky up." — Taylor Swift, "Ophelia"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/MN0Jc8SQoqLWRSdgq5q_4g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/b8c687465070c70a444301b8a4bd8bbe class=caas-img data-headline="Taylor Swift's most notable lyrics about Travis Kelce on 'The Life of a Showgirl'" data-caption="
"I swore loyalty to me, myself and I / Right before you lit my sky up." — Taylor Swift, "Ophelia"
">"I swore loyalty to me, myself and I / Right before you lit my sky up." — Taylor Swift, "Ophelia"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/MN0Jc8SQoqLWRSdgq5q_4g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/b8c687465070c70a444301b8a4bd8bbe class=caas-img>— Taylor Swift, "Eldest Daughter"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>"When I said I don't believe in marriage / That was a lie."— Taylor Swift, "Eldest Daughter"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ol8bXZwtR3JhjH7yR.YQGA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/8adcf9f96ef55ce8efc3aaf7c53b80ef class=caas-img data-headline="Taylor Swift's most notable lyrics about Travis Kelce on 'The Life of a Showgirl'" data-caption="
"When I said I don't believe in marriage / That was a lie."— Taylor Swift, "Eldest Daughter"
">"When I said I don't believe in marriage / That was a lie."— Taylor Swift, "Eldest Daughter"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ol8bXZwtR3JhjH7yR.YQGA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/8adcf9f96ef55ce8efc3aaf7c53b80ef class=caas-img>— Taylor Swift, "Ophelia"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>"You dug me out of my grave and saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia / Keep it 100 / On the land, the sea, the sky / Pledge allegiance to your hands / Your team, your vibes." — Taylor Swift, "Ophelia"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/TXd4Ff6PhiiNbTwpKai5jQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/dab243144ad90ce67125496da37d236a class=caas-img data-headline="Taylor Swift's most notable lyrics about Travis Kelce on 'The Life of a Showgirl'" data-caption="
"You dug me out of my grave and saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia / Keep it 100 / On the land, the sea, the sky / Pledge allegiance to your hands / Your team, your vibes." — Taylor Swift, "Ophelia"
">"You dug me out of my grave and saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia / Keep it 100 / On the land, the sea, the sky / Pledge allegiance to your hands / Your team, your vibes." — Taylor Swift, "Ophelia"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/TXd4Ff6PhiiNbTwpKai5jQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/dab243144ad90ce67125496da37d236a class=caas-img>“Summertime spritz, pink skies / You can call me 'honey' if you want / Because I'm the one you want. ... You could be my forever-night stand." — Taylor Swift, "Honey"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>“Summertime spritz, pink skies / You can call me 'honey' if you want / Because I'm the one you want. ... You could be my forever-night stand." — Taylor Swift, "Honey"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/I.jfgLNmVlpZMMtwOYvb0A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/55c28a1cdc2501d70c96b539442d5797 class=caas-img data-headline="Taylor Swift's most notable lyrics about Travis Kelce on 'The Life of a Showgirl'" data-caption="
“Summertime spritz, pink skies / You can call me 'honey' if you want / Because I'm the one you want. ... You could be my forever-night stand." — Taylor Swift, "Honey"
">“Summertime spritz, pink skies / You can call me 'honey' if you want / Because I'm the one you want. ... You could be my forever-night stand." — Taylor Swift, "Honey"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/I.jfgLNmVlpZMMtwOYvb0A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/55c28a1cdc2501d70c96b539442d5797 class=caas-img>Seems to be that you and me, we make our own luck. ... His love was thе key that opened my thighs."— Taylor Swift, "Wood"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>"The curse on me was broken by your magic wand /Seems to be that you and me, we make our own luck. ... His love was thе key that opened my thighs."— Taylor Swift, "Wood"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/xtj6T9wTU82.lGrwMF_Aeg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e9ecaf7bc4a191b4318a96d4bf4de2bf class=caas-img data-headline="Taylor Swift's most notable lyrics about Travis Kelce on 'The Life of a Showgirl'" data-caption="
"The curse on me was broken by your magic wand /Seems to be that you and me, we make our own luck. ... His love was thе key that opened my thighs."— Taylor Swift, "Wood"
">"The curse on me was broken by your magic wand /Seems to be that you and me, we make our own luck. ... His love was thе key that opened my thighs."— Taylor Swift, "Wood"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/xtj6T9wTU82.lGrwMF_Aeg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e9ecaf7bc4a191b4318a96d4bf4de2bf class=caas-img>I'm nеver gonna leave you now." — Taylor Swift, "Eldest Daughter"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>"So many traitors, smooth operators / But I'm never gonna break that vowI'm nеver gonna leave you now." — Taylor Swift, "Eldest Daughter"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/FGz8F18yloBjmBusBHgiEA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/cd737c95b9fdc65eb2215e5fabc27d77 class=caas-img data-headline="Taylor Swift's most notable lyrics about Travis Kelce on 'The Life of a Showgirl'" data-caption="
"So many traitors, smooth operators / But I'm never gonna break that vowI'm nеver gonna leave you now." — Taylor Swift, "Eldest Daughter"
">"So many traitors, smooth operators / But I'm never gonna break that vowI'm nеver gonna leave you now." — Taylor Swift, "Eldest Daughter"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/FGz8F18yloBjmBusBHgiEA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/cd737c95b9fdc65eb2215e5fabc27d77 class=caas-img>
1 / 7Taylor Swift's most notable lyrics about Travis Kelce on 'The Life of a Showgirl'
In "The Life of a Showgirl," Taylor Swift shows she's a woman in love and "proudly flaunts the physical and emotional attributes of her man," USA TODAY critic Melissa Ruggieri writes. Here are some of the lyrics on the album that nod to Travis Kelce.
'Swiftynomics' book tour
To celebrate the release of "Swiftynomics," Heggeness is embarking on a multicity tour packed with bookstore stops, campus talks and festival appearances.
Feb 13: Los Angeles, Calif., at Book Soup
Feb 23: Greenville, S.C., at Furman University
Feb 24: Coral Gables, Fla., at Books & Books
Feb 28: Rutgers, N.J., at Rutgers Business School
Mar 2: Princeton, N.J., at Princeton Public Library
Mar 7: Pittsburg, Kan., at Pittsburg Public Library
Mar 13: Austin, Texas, at SXSW Book Reading
Mar 26: Overland Park, Kan., at Johnson County Public Library
Mar 28–29: Allentown, PA., at Lehigh Valley Book Festival
Mar 30: Chicago at Chicago Public Library
Apr 3: Brookline, Mass., at Brookline Booksmith
Apr 9: Minneapolis, Minn., at Magers & Quinn
Apr 10: Fargo, N.D., at Ferguson Books & More
Apr 12: Northfield, Minn., at Content Bookstore
Apr 19: Washington, D.C., at Georgetown Barnes & Noble
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 'Swiftynomics' author hopes singer can bring more women into economics
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
