Definition

Noun: - A matter of personal financial concern: A "pocketbook issue" is a political, social, or economic problem that directly impacts an individual's or family's personal finances, budget, or economic well-being. These are practical, everyday concerns related to money.

Usage

This term is primarily used in political and economic discussions to describe topics that voters care about because they affect their personal financial situation. It emphasizes tangible, immediate economic impact over abstract or ideological concerns.

Examples

• In political discourse:
  • For many voters, inflation and gas prices are key pocketbook issues in this election.
  • The candidate focused her campaign on pocketbook issues like healthcare costs and property taxes.
• In general discussion:
  • The new tariff became a pocketbook issue for consumers when prices for imported goods rose.
  • Whether the factory stays open is a pocketbook issue for the entire town.

Advanced Usage

• Used as a modifier: The term can function adjectivally to describe other nouns.
  • The debate centered on pocketbook-issue politics rather than foreign policy.
  • They are running a pocketbook-issue campaign.

Variants and Related Words

• Pocketbook (noun, informal): A person's financial resources or income.
  • The tax cut will help the average family's pocketbook.
• Bread-and-butter issue (noun, idiom): A very similar term meaning a fundamental issue concerning a person's livelihood or basic needs.

Synonyms

• Economic issue
• Financial concern
• Kitchen-table issue (idiom)

Related Idioms

• To hit (someone) in the pocketbook: To negatively affect someone financially.
  • The recession hit every family in the pocketbook.

Noun

1. an issue whose settlement will affect financial resources