In his book, Tirole emphasises that economics is a science of the means, not of the aims. Political objectives incorporate values, and setting these objectives is the task of those mandated to do so by democratic elections. Economics, in turn, can provide an input when the goal is to find tools for meeting the objectives at the lowest possible cost.
The market and the state One of the key issues of economics is the role of the market. As Tirole emphasises in his book, the market is an instrument for economists, not an end itself. The market cannot always function without failures.