I don't think that is a very good explanation of conservative vs. liberal, at least in regard to economic policies. I'd say it's more a matter of conservatives

I don't think that is a very good explanation of conservative vs. liberal, at least in regard to economic policies. I'd say it's more a matter of conservatives focusing on the incentives created by policy, while the liberal focuses more on its intention. The conservative analyzes the incentives from the viewpoint of a self-interested individual, as we all are to varying degrees. One can be a proponent of liberal policy, another of conservative policy, but both be interested in helping the relative poor- they just disagree on the means to achieve similar goals.