Origins of economic policies

• Thatcher's economic views were based on a mixture of her moral upbringing and the influence of 'new right' thinkers such as the works of Austrian economist Friedrich Hayek
• She herself was more practical than theoretical in bringing about economic policies
• She wanted to smash the restrictive and, as she saw it, undemocratic practices of trade unions in order to, promote individualism, overcome inefficiencies of state-owned industry, promote growth and investment and fostering a greater sense of public participation