The Politics of Trying

Over the past decades, the legitimacy of governments was largely measured by final outcomes and economic indicators, such as higher growth rates and lower inflation. But as economic pressures have intensified, prices have risen, and individuals have become increasingly unable to cope with the cost of living, a new philosophy has emerged regarding the role of government and the nature of the social contract between the state and its citizens.

Instead of waiting for years for economic growth to materialize and living conditions to improve, this approach calls for immediate, tangible, and targeted government interventions to ease the burdens of everyday life. Two models in the West are currently pursuing this approach: Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York, and Andy Burnham, the new Prime Minister of Britain.

Burnham took office last July. Public anger toward the Labour government had been intense, driven by rising prices for goods and higher electricity, water, and gas bills, as well as a gradual retreat from social welfare policies, particularly those affecting older people. The popularity of the Labour Party, which had come to power only two years earlier with an unprecedented majority, had declined to the point that, had an election been held, it would have been won by the far-right Reform Party.

What did Burnham do? He introduced a fundamental shift in the government’s approach. The focus was no longer primarily on medium- and long-term macroeconomic objectives, but on immediate interventions benefiting citizens and demonstrating that the government was working for them.

Some energy bills were immediately cancelled, VAT on electricity was reduced, a price cap was imposed on public transportation fares, and tax exemptions were introduced for local utilities. Burnham and his government’s approach, known as the “Politics of Trying,” is based on the idea that rather than waiting for economic plans designed to raise living standards to take effect, governments need to pursue a continuous series of decisions that send people a clear message: the government is standing on their side.

Mamdani pursued something similar several months earlier, although under a different label. His approach is centered on “affordability.”

It begins with a simple question: Can ordinary citizens actually afford the basic costs of life—housing, food, their children’s education, transportation, and other necessities—amid such dramatic price increases when incomes are not rising at the same rate?

His response has been a set of immediate and tangible policies designed to put more money back into people’s pockets. These include freezing rent increases, making public bus routes free for everyone, providing childcare from six weeks to five years of age financed through higher taxes on the wealthy, and expanding access to affordable housing.

In Egypt, we adopted the theory of “trickle-down economics” two decades ago. The emphasis was placed on encouraging investment, building infrastructure, and creating a favorable business environment, with the expectation that the benefits would eventually trickle down to the middle- and lower-income classes.

That did not happen.

As economic and social pressures have intensified, there is an urgent need to move closer to the principles of the “Politics of Trying” and “Affordability.”

What is required are immediate and direct measures that families can actually feel in their daily budgets, particularly in the cost of essential services, transportation, and utility bills.

In their daily struggle with rising prices, citizens need to feel that someone is standing with them in this battle. People are no longer able—or willing—to wait for the benefits of long-term sustainable growth strategies to materialize. They want rapid measures that can help them navigate the immediate pressures of everyday life.

Social justice is no longer a distant objective to be achieved at the end of a five- or ten-year plan. It is a daily practice whose first and ultimate priority is the citizen.