I'm sorry but I don't think the 80s are really something that can be explained to someone that didn't live through them, which I assume you didn't, otherwise you wouldn't be asking for clarification on Reaganomics.
I loved the 80s so much more than the 70s, so I'm not sure where you are coming from.
EDIT: I did remove an insult from an earlier draft of an earlier comment that you were probably a kid (as most people here are) that didn't remember the 80s. Since you are apparently not, my question still stands. (I don't have a pin-up of Margaret Thatcher any more, though...)