how would you describe Steven T…

Steven Teles is generally described as having center-left or liberal politics, though he's known for his scholarly approach that often transcends partisan divides. Here are some key aspects of his political perspective:

**Academic Focus**: As a political scientist at Johns Hopkins, Teles is known for rigorous, institutionally-focused research rather than partisan advocacy.

**Reformist Orientation**: He's particularly interested in institutional reform and reducing dysfunction in American politics and governance. His work often focuses on how institutions can be improved regardless of ideological orientation.

**Cross-Partisan Appeal**: While personally liberal, his research on topics like criminal justice reform, occupational licensing, and institutional dysfunction has found audiences across the political spectrum.

**Pragmatic Liberalism**: His approach tends to be pragmatic rather than ideological, focusing on what works rather than pure partisan positions.

**Anti-Establishment Tendencies**: Much of his work critiques established institutions and interest groups from both left and right that he sees as contributing to political dysfunction.

His co-authored book "The Politics Industry" and his work on the "political economy of expertise" reflect someone who, while coming from a liberal perspective, is willing to critique liberal institutions and work with conservatives when he sees opportunities for beneficial reform. He's more of a reformist academic than a partisan political actor.

Yes, Teles' work with the Niskanen Center could reasonably be described as aligned with left-libertarian or "liberaltarian" perspectives, though it's more nuanced than that label alone suggests.

**Left-Libertarian Elements**:
- **Anti-monopoly/anti-concentration**: Strong focus on reducing corporate power and market concentration
- **Deregulation of certain sectors**: Particularly occupational licensing and zoning that harm workers and consumers
- **Criminal justice reform**: Reducing incarceration and reforming punitive systems
- **Anti-cronyism**: Opposing rent-seeking behavior by both business and government actors

**The Niskanen Center's Approach**:
- Explicitly tries to bridge libertarian skepticism of power with progressive concerns about inequality
- Supports market mechanisms while acknowledging market failures
- Pro-immigration, anti-NIMBYism, and focused on removing barriers to economic mobility
- Climate policy that uses market-based solutions

**Teles' Contribution**:
His institutional focus fits well with this framework - he's interested in removing barriers created by entrenched interests whether they're professional guilds, regulatory capture, or partisan dysfunction.

However, "left-libertarian" might be slightly limiting as a description, since both Teles and Niskanen are willing to support government action when they see market failures or coordination problems. They're more "institutionally pragmatic" than ideologically libertarian.

The term "liberaltarian" - combining liberal ends with more libertarian means - might be more precise for describing this approach.