About the Book: In “Deficit,” Danish feminist Emma Holten critiques the flawed economic models that label women as a net “deficit” to society, primarily due to their roles in childbirth, parental leave, and often low-paid, part-time care work. Holten traces this issue back to Enlightenment-era economic thinkers who established a value framework that historically overlooked and neglected “women’s work” and acts of care. She argues that the modern economic models driving political decisions today, while creating monetary wealth, are similarly flawed and causing deep, universal social harm