Business, Finance & Law Books
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Cocoa
Book SynopsisChocolate has long been a favorite indulgence. But behind every chocolate bar we unwrap, there is a world of power struggles and political maneuvering over its most important ingredient: cocoa. In this incisive book, Kristy Leissle reveals how cocoa, which brings pleasure and wealth to relatively few, depends upon an extensive global trade system that exploits the labor of five million growers, as well as countless other workers and vulnerable groups. The reality of this dramatic inequity, she explains, is often masked by the social, cultural, emotional, and economic values humans have placed upon cocoa from its earliest cultivation in Mesoamerica to the present day. Tracing the cocoa value chain from farms in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, through to chocolate factories in Europe and North America, Leissle shows how cocoa has been used as a political tool to wield power over others. Cocoa's politicization is not, however, limitless: it happens within botanical parameters set by the crop itself, and the material reality of its transport, storage, and manufacture into chocolate. As calls for justice in the industry have grown louder, Leissle reveals the possibilities for and constraints upon realizing a truly sustainable and fulfilling livelihood for cocoa growers, and for keeping the world full of chocolate.Trade Review"In this fascinating analysis, Kristy Leissle explores the rich history of the global cocoa sector and the changing dynamics of the chocolate confectionery industry. It will be an essential resource for anyone wanting to promote a more sustainable future for cocoa."—Stephanie Barrientos, University of Manchester "Kristy Leissle's book offers an insightful critique of power relations in the world of cocoa. Addressing issues that are often not known or misunderstood in the public arena, this clear and compelling text is a must-read for students, scholars and activists."—Amanda Berlan, De Montfort University "A concise analysis of the inequalities that pervade an industry of 5m growers, spread across the tropics."—Financial Times "You will never look at chocolate in the same way again."—GeographicalTable of ContentsContents Abbreviations Figures and Tables Acknowledgments 1 Introduction 2 World Cocoa Map 3 Stages of Sweet 4 Power in the Market 5 Economics on the Ground 6 Trade Justice 7 Governing Quality 8 Sustainable Futures Notes Selected Readings Index
£14.24
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Can We Avoid Another Financial Crisis?
Book SynopsisThe Great Financial Crash had cataclysmic effects on the global economy, and took conventional economists completely by surprise. Many leading commentators declared shortly before the crisis that the magical recipe for eternal stability had been found. Less than a year later, the biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression erupted. In this explosive book, Steve Keen, one of the very few economists who anticipated the crash, shows why the self-declared experts were wrong and how ever–rising levels of private debt make another financial crisis almost inevitable unless politicians tackle the real dynamics causing financial instability. He also identifies the economies that have become 'The Walking Dead of Debt', and those that are next in line – including Australia, Belgium, China, Canada and South Korea. A major intervention by a fearlessly iconoclastic figure, this book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the true nature of the global economic system.Trade Review"No one is more qualified than Steve Keen to answer the question "Can we avoid another financial crisis?" with more than a single word. Read this book!" —Yanis Varoufakis, former Finance Minister of Greece "In this compelling essay, Steve Keen shows that the "Great Moderation" was in fact a great delusion and documents, to brutal effect, the foolish complacency of mainstream macroeconomists." —James K. Galbraith, University of Texas at Austin "Steve Keen explains why the financial crisis it occurred, and why it can't just get better on its own, along its present track. He also explains – in a hilarious and absolutely justified takedown – why mainstream economists have a "trained incapacity" in being unable to understand why the economy has broken down – and hence, why they don’t have a real solution. We are still living in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis. It’s all about debt. But economists fear they will lose their jobs if they say that debts must be written down. Keen asks what is more important: to save the economy, or to save the jobs for economists whose prestige rests on their not understanding why economies are in trouble today." —Michael Hudson, author of Killing the Host and The Bubble and Beyond"Non-academics interested in economic or financial markets should, if they read ony one book on the topic, absolutely read this one."—International Investment"Mr. Keen is surely right to argue that growth fuelled by the continuing expansion of private debt is highly risky for the overall economy, and that which cannot continue indefinitely will come to a sticky end sooner rather than later. We should heed his advice..."—Globe and MailTable of ContentsAcknowledgements List of Tables and Figures 1. From Triumph to Crisis in Economics 2. Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Complexity 3. The Lull and The Storm 4. The Smoking Gun of Credit 5. The Political Economy of Private Debt 6. A Cynic�s Conclusion Endnotes Bibliography
£15.58
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Do We Need Economic Inequality?
Book SynopsisAlthough economic inequality provokes widespread disquiet, its supposed necessity is rarely questioned. At best, a basic level of inequality is seen as a necessary evil. At worst, it is seen as insufficient to encourage aspiration, hard work and investment – a refrain sometimes used to advocate ever greater inequality. In this original new book, Danny Dorling critically analyses historical trends and contemporary assumptions in order to question the idea that inequality is an inevitability. What if, he asks, widespread economic inequality is actually just a passing phase, a feature of the capitalist transition from a settled rural way of life to our next highly urban steady-state? Is it really likely that we face a Blade Runner-style dystopian future divided between a tiny elite and an impoverished mass? Dorling shows how, amongst much else, a stabilizing population, changing gender relations and rising access to education make a more egalitarian alternative to this nightmare vision not only preferable, but realistic. This bold contribution to one of the most significant debates of our time will be essential reading for anyone interested in our economic, social and political destiny.Trade Review"Provocative as always, Danny Dorling challenges us with encyclopaedic knowledge, damning statistics and original insights. Thoughtfully, he helps us to envision a better society and to believe that we might achieve it."Kate Pickett, University of YorkTable of Contents Contents 1. Bell Curves 2. A history of inequality 3. Why argue for inequality? 4. Who benefits from inequality? 5. Where do the costs of inequality fall? 6. What are the alternatives to inequality? 7. When will the fall in inequality become clear? 8. Reasons for Optimism
£16.40
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Why Can't You Afford a Home?
Book SynopsisThroughout the Western world, a whole generation is being priced out of the housing market. For millions of people, particularly millennials, the basic goal of acquiring decent, affordable accommodation is a distant dream. Leading economist Josh Ryan-Collins argues that to understand this crisis, we must examine a crucial paradox at the heart of modern capitalism. The interaction of private home ownership and a lightly regulated commercial banking system leads to a feedback cycle. Unlimited credit and money flows into an inherently finite supply of property, which causes rising house prices, declining home ownership, rising inequality and debt, stagnant growth and financial instability. Radical reforms are needed to break the cycle. This engaging and topical book will be essential reading for anyone who wants to understand why they can’t find an affordable home, and what we can do about it.Trade Review"In this excellent book, Josh Ryan-Collins shows that unaffordable housing is not part of nature, and how a number of countries have broken what the author aptly calls the housing-financial cycle, by de-linking land pricing from mortgage-debt pyramiding."—Michael Hudson, Levy Economics Institute of Bard College "Why can't you afford to buy a home? It's not because of too many smashed avocadoes, or too little land, but too much bank lending. Josh Ryan-Collins clearly explains how bank lending for speculation has made housing inaccessible, and how to tame the beast of finance."—Steve Keen, University of Kingston, author of Debunking Economics "This book is the best short introduction I've seen to a burgeoning literature on housing and financialisation"—Inside Housing "Why Can't You Afford a Home? is a short, readable and valuable book.... It makes a convincing set of arguments that explain much of our current housing crisis."—Irish Times
£15.79
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Should We Abolish Household Debts?
Book SynopsisWe live in a culture of credit. As wages have stagnated, we’ve seen a dramatic surge in private borrowing across the western world; increasing numbers of households are sucked into a hopeless vortex of spiralling debt, fuelled by exploitative lending. In this book Johnna Montgomerie argues that the situation is chronically dysfunctional, both individually and collectively. She shows that abolishing household debts can put an end to austerity and to the unsustainable forward march of debt-dependent growth. She combines astute economic analysis with the elements of an accessible guide to practical policy solutions such as extending unconventional monetary policy to the household sector, providing pragmatic and affordable refinancing options, and writing off the most pernicious elements of household debt. This framework, she contends, can help us to make our economy fairer and to tackle both the housing crisis and accelerating inequality.Trade Review"Abolishing household debt is heresy to the politicians who brought us bank bailouts and austerity. Johnna Montgomerie explains why so many families in Britain are dependent on borrowing and offers concrete proposals for ending the debt-fuelled growth."—Paul Mason, journalist and author "In this book, Johnna Montgomerie demonstrates that an apparently radical idea, abolishing household debt, is just common sense. Buy it, read it, tell others to do the same."—John Weeks, Coordinator of the Progressive Economy Forum "It is not often that I read a non-fiction book that is an easy read, explains complex economic concepts with metaphors that are simple enough to understand, and make perfect sense. Should we abolish household debts? by Johnna Montgomerie is such a book."—Financial Times "Concise, informative."—Morning Star
£8.99
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Do Central Banks Serve the People?
Book SynopsisCentral banks have become the go-to institution of modern economies. In the wake of the 2007 financial crisis, they injected trillions of dollars of liquidity – through a process known as quantitative easing – first to prevent financial meltdown and later to stimulate the economy. The untold story behind these measures, and behind the changing roles of central banks generally, is that they have come at a considerable cost. Central banks argue we had no choice. This book offers a powerfully original examination of why this claim is false. Using examples from Europe and the US, the authors present and analyse three specific concerns about the way central banks in developed economies operate today. Firstly, they show how unconventional monetary policies have created significant unintended negative consequences in terms of inequalities in income and wealth. They go on to argue that central banks may have become independent of governments, but have instead become worryingly dependent on financial markets. They then proceed to analyse how central bankers, despite being the undisputed experts on monetary policy, can still err and suffer from multiple forms of bias. This book is a sobering and urgent wake-up call for policy-makers and anyone interested in how our monetary and financial system really works.Trade Review"This excellent book shows that central banking is a political process with profound distributional consequences. It is a must read for anyone wanting to know how central banks could work to serve the people."—Daniela Gabor, University of the West of England "This highly recommended book should give political leaders pause when they ask for continued blind faith in central bank maestros."—Christopher Adolph, University of Washington
£999.99
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Money
Book SynopsisFew economic phenomena provoke as much confusion as money. From the first measures of value and the physical coins that circulated at the dawn human civilization to the era of ‘virtual’ money transmitted through cyberspace, it is ubiquitous and hugely important, yet economists cannot even agree on what it is. In this pithy, accessible book, Geoffrey Ingham cuts through this tangled web of debate to bring rare clarity. Ingham begins by examining the fundamental debate over the nature of money: is it fundamentally a natural, ‘neutral’ measure of pre-existing value produced by ‘real’ economic forces? Or is it a socially produced and politically manipulated force that creates new value? He proceeds to trace the import of these competing views for how we understand our contemporary monetary systems and their practical and policy-related implications, from their role in financial crises to proposals for reform. Students of political economy, economic sociology and monetary economics will find this book an invaluable primer, as will general readers wishing to understand how money shapes their lives, from the cash in their pocket to the numbers on their computer screen.Trade Review‘Geoffrey Ingham offers a masterful account of money as a social technology, contrasting it with mainstream monetary theory and focusing on the relations between states and markets. He does so with an impressive sweep from ancient history to the present.’Sheila Dow, University of Stirling ‘This is a brilliantly clear and succinct survey. Ingham provides a crisp and critical account of the major theories of money, together with a sharp analysis of contemporary forms of money such as Bitcoin and other alternative moneys. For anyone searching for a reliable and accessible way into the extraordinarily complex phenomenon of money, this book is a must-read.’Nigel Dodd, London School of Economics and Political ScienceTable of ContentsPart I What is Money? 1 Money’s Puzzles 2 The ‘incompatibles’ 3 A social theory of money and monetary systems Part II Capitalism and Money 4 The evolution of capitalist money 5 Modern money (i): states, central banks, and their banking system 6 Modern money (ii): ‘near’ money; ‘complementary’, ‘alternative’; ‘surrogate’ money; and ‘crypto currency’ 7 The Great Financial Crisis and the Question of Money 8 Some conclusions
£14.24
John Wiley and Sons Ltd The Tragedy of Property: Private Life, Ownership
Book SynopsisRussian novels, poetry and ballet put the country squarely in the European family of cultures and yet there is something different about this country, especially in terms of its political culture. What makes Russia different? Maxim Trudolyubov uses private property as a lens to highlight the most important features that distinguish Russia as a political culture. In many Western societies, private property has acted as the private individual’s bulwark against the state; in Russia, by contrast, it has mostly been used by the authorities as a governance tool. Nineteenth-century Russian liberals did not consider property rights to be one of the civil causes worthy of defending. Property was associated with serfdom, and even after the emancipation of the serfs the institution of property was still seen as an attribute of retrograde aristocracy and oppressive government. It was something to be destroyed – and indeed it was, in 1917. Ironically, it was the Soviet Union that, with the arrival of mass housing in the 1960s, gave the concept of private ownership a good name. After forced collectivization and mass urbanization, people were yearning for a space of their own. The collapse of the Soviet ideology allowed property to be called property, but not all properties were equal. You could own a flat but not an oil company, which could be property on paper but not in reality. This is why most Russian entrepreneurs register their businesses in offshore jurisdictions and park their money abroad.This fresh and highly original perspective on Russian history will be of great interest to anyone who wants to understand Russia today.Trade Review‘The Tragedy of Property is the story of how Russia came to be as it is: a land of aspiration and anxiety, of challenge and opportunity, and of endless unasked questions. This book must be read by anyone who wants to understand where Russia is headed, and where we will meet it.’ Samuel Greene, King's College London“Cogent and vivid”The TLSTable of Contents Acknowledgements Foreword - Alexander Etkind Introduction: The Tragedy of Property Chapter 1. The Entrance 1. Homeless people 2. From city dwellers to citizens 3. Reflected modernity 4. The capital of succeeding generations Chapter 2. The Fence: Russian Title 1. Good fences make good neighbours 2. The permanence of the fence 3. Life without property rights 4. Russian title Chapter 3. Behind the Fence: the Privatization of Utopia 1. Private palaces 2. The privatization of Utopia 3. The birth of private life 4. The Dutch carpenter’s house Chapter 4. Private Property: My Home Is My Castle 1. The myth of Sparta 2. The domus of our forebears 3. Mine and ours 4. Life, liberty and property 5. Christianity and Utopia 6. Utopia without property Chapter 5. Territory: Ambitions of Colonialism and Methods of Subjugation 1. Yermak the Conquistador 2. Stewardship and extraction 3. A natural resource irony of history Chapter 6. The Lock on the Door: the Priority of Security 1. The collapse of monarchy in the West 2. Success in the East 3. Control as the top priority 4. Security as a threat Chapter 7. Labourers: Moral Economics and the Art of Survival 1. The plough, the scythe and the axe 2. Moral economics 3. The commune against the private farmer 4. Dictatorship of the collective Chapter 8. Masters: the Tragedy of Domination 1. Owners and rulers 2. ‘Let not the nobility be dispossessed of their estates without due process of law’ 3. The birth of free people 4. Traduced and sacred law 5. The attempt to share Chapter 9. Architecture, Happiness and Order 1. The project we live in 2. Stalin’s orders 3. Khrushchev’s social revolution 4. Happiness and order 5. Russian order Chapter 10. Our Half-built Home 1. Favour from the tsar 2. Property without the market 3. A market without property Chapter 11. Two Options: Finish Building the Home, or Emigrate 1. Property without property rights 2. Democracy without the rule of law 3. Law enforcement without the rule of law 4. The open door Afterword Notes Index
£17.09
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Work
Book SynopsisMuch of our life involves working, preparing for work, searching for work, or thinking and worrying about work. Whether paid or unpaid, free or coerced, full-time, part-time, or zero-hours, work defines us and helps shape our behavior both on and off the job. In this accessible book, leading labor economist Bruce Pietrykowski offers a highly engaging exploration of the history and contemporary organization of work under capitalism. His clear presentation of the theoretical debates is illustrated by real-world examples from across the globe and a skillful account of alternatives that point toward a post-capitalist future. Employing a progressive, worker-centered vision that goes beyond mainstream economics, he examines themes ranging from inequality, care work, and the gig economy to technological change and a universal basic income. His analysis emphasizes power, conflict, solidarity, and cooperation, interpreted through the lenses of class, race, gender, and place. This comprehensive and highly readable book will be of interest to students of economics, sociology, labor studies, and politics seeking to learn more about work and workers in the global economy, as well as interested general readers.Trade Review�This bright, readable, and radical overview of labor economics points a smart finger at the work that goes on behind and beyond capitalist employment.�Nancy Folbre, University of Massachusetts �This book provides a lucid and readable introduction to the political economy of work for students and non-economists. Drawing on Marxist, feminist, and Post-Keynesian schools of thought, and a wealth of historical examples, Pietrykowski provides a toolkit to break the intellectual fetters of mainstream economics. Starting with the question of what is special about labor, Pietrykowski's discussion covers labor-market inequality, work in the household, employer behavior, worker ownership, technological change, and much more.�Ian Greer, Cornell University�Bruce Pietrykowski has written a sharp and nuanced critique of mainstream perspectives in labor economics that will broaden readers' understanding of what constitutes �work� in the modern economy.�Journal of Labor and Society�Very insightful...the book functions as Cliff Notes...for the classics and gives interested readers a wealth of citations and material on contemporary debates.�Daniel James Joseph, Labour
£14.24
John Wiley and Sons Ltd The Idea of Socialism: Towards a Renewal
Book SynopsisThe idea of socialism has given normative grounding and orientation to the outrage over capitalism for more than 150 years, and yet today it seems to have lost much of its appeal. Despite growing discontent, many would hesitate to invoke socialism when it comes to envisioning life beyond capitalism. How can we explain the rapid decline of this once powerful idea? And what must we do to renew it for the twenty-first century? In this lucid, political-philosophical essay, Axel Honneth argues that the idea of socialism has lost its luster because its theoretical assumptions stem from the industrial era and are no longer convincing in our contemporary post-industrial societies. Only if we manage to replace these assumptions with a concept of history and society that corresponds to our current experiences will we be able to restore confidence in a project whose fundamental idea remains as relevant today as it was a century ago the idea of an economy that realizes freedom in solidarity. The Idea of Socialism was awarded the Bruno Kreisky Prize for the Political Book of 2015. Trade Review"Axel Honneth explores the contemporary meaning of the socialist ideal. Drawing on Hegel, Dewey, Marx, and the utopian socialist tradition, Honneth argues – with great power – that socialism is about harmonizing ideals of freedom and solidarity, creating institutions of social freedom that more fully realize the Enlightenment’s normative project. Creating that order will require socialists to think beyond economy and social class, to imagine a form of democratic society animated by an experimental spirit – a society that expands the scope of problem-solving through free communication among equals. I hope this important and illuminating book gets the wide readership it deserves."Joshua Cohen, Stanford University"Axel Honneth makes a lucid and compelling case for renewing the utopian impulse of the early Marx in the context of the present. In this quite remarkable book, Honneth asks why various contemporary forms of discontent do not easily transform into a vision of the future. He returns to the early documents of socialism in order to mark their limits and to formulate a more substantial account of social freedom. The great ambition of this small book is to show that a more robust understanding of social freedom, cooperative life, and ideals of solidarity, can be derived from a reformulated account of the social sphere. In his view, freedom only makes sense on the basis of cooperative orientations. This early ideal can, and must, be renewed in light of the contemporary differentiation of needs, and the contemporary political demands on communication and recognition. Mindful of what remains vibrant in the past and imperative for the future, Honneth deftly shows how the ideal of socialism can orient our thought and action in the contemporary political world."Judith Butler, University of California
£14.24
John Wiley and Sons Ltd The New Environmental Economics: Sustainability
Book SynopsisToo often, economics disassociates humans from nature, the economy from the biosphere that contains it, and sustainability from fairness. When economists do engage with environmental issues, they typically reduce their analysis to a science of efficiency that leaves aside issues of distributional analysis and justice. The aim of this lucid textbook is to provide a framework that prioritizes human well-being within the limits of the biosphere, and to rethink economic analysis and policy in the light of not just efficiency but equity. Leading economist Éloi Laurent systematically ties together sustainability and justice issues in covering a wide range of topics, from biodiversity and ecosystems, energy and climate change, environmental health and environmental justice, to new indicators of well-being and sustainability beyond GDP and growth, social-ecological transition, and sustainable urban systems. This book equips readers with ideas and tools from various disciplines alongside economics, such as history, political science, and philosophy, and invites them to apply those insights in order to understand and eventually tackle pressing twenty-first-century challenges. It will be an invaluable resource for students of environmental economics and policy, and sustainable development.Trade Review“In The New Environmental Economics, Éloi Laurent brings justice and sustainability to center stage as foundations for sound environmental policy – where they belong. This book could help to revolutionize the teaching of this vital subject.”James K. Boyce, University of Massachusetts Amherst “All economics is – or should be – environmental economics. Éloi Laurent eloquently reminds us that, as the science of allocating scarce resources, economics has questions of environmental science and social justice at its heart. This book sets out what is needed for economic policy to deliver sustainability in its broadest sense. The challenge could not be more urgent."Diane Coyle, University of CambridgeTable of ContentsIntroduction: Economics for the 21st century Part 1. Ideas and tools Chapter 1. What the classics know about our world, what 20th century economics forgot Chapter 2. Humans within the biosphere: the paradox of domination and dependence Chapter 3. Governing the commons fairly Chapter 4. Spheres of environmental justice Chapter 5. Natural resources, externalities and sustainability: a critical toolbox Part 2. 21st century social-ecological challenges Chapter 6. Biodiversity and ecosystems under growing and unequal pressure Chapter 7. Beyond EXPOWA (Extraction, pollution and waste) Chapter 8. Energy, Climate and Justice Chapter 9. Well-being and our environment: from trade-offs to synergies Chapter 10. Social-ecology: connecting the inequality and ecological crises Chapter 11. The social-ecological transition in context: capitalism, democracy, globalization and digitalization Chapter 12. Urban sustainability and polycentric transition Conclusion: Open economics
£17.09
John Wiley and Sons Ltd The Political Economy of International Trade
Book SynopsisWith protectionist sentiment and economic nationalism on the rise, international trade and how it is governed is at the heart of some of the most important contemporary economic and political debates. Comprehensive and clear, this book skilfully outlines and analyses the dynamics of trade in the 21st century. Ken Heydon examines three broad themes: the nature and distribution of the gains from trade, the institutional and governance framework of the international trade system, and the contentious practical issues confronting policy-makers across the world. He considers pressing contemporary debates surrounding issues ranging from agriculture and food security to the links between trade and environment protection, core labour standards and intellectual property rights. He demonstrates the importance of a change of mindset in terms of how we see trade policy: it should not, he argues, be simply a question of international negotiation, but also a key component of sound domestic economic management. In short, we need to put commerce in context. Drawing on the author’s experience as a policy practitioner, trade policy analyst and teacher, the volume is informed by an extensive analysis of the literature and by relevant case studies. It is designed for students and scholars of international political economy and trade policy, trade officials, and the general public.Trade Review"[A] well-written introduction to the world trading system as it actually exists today"Foreign Affairs"At a time of instability and change in the multilateral trading order, the issues raised by this book deserve critical, ongoing consideration."Journal of Australian Political EconomyTable of ContentsList of Case Studies List of Figures Abbreviations Structure: The Building Blocks Introduction: Echoes of Mercantilism Part 1: The Gains from Trade: Winners and Losers Chapter 1: The Political Economy of Trade: The Domestic Setting Chapter 2: Trade, Growth and Development Chapter 3: Trade, Investment and the Global Value Chain Part 2: The Institutional Framework Chapter 4: The Systemic Threats to the Multilateral Trading Order Chapter 5: The Rise of Preferential Trade Agreements Part 3: Confronting the Issues Chapter 6: Distortions to Trade in Manufactures Chapter 7: The Special Case of Agriculture Chapter 8: Negotiating Services and Investment Chapter 9: Competition Policy and the Role of the Firm Chapter 10: Trade Links to Environment, Labour Standards and Property Rights Conclusion: Putting Commerce in Context Acknowledgements Notes References Index
£17.09
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Austerity
Book SynopsisAusterity has been at the center of political controversy following the 2008 financial crisis, invoked by politicians and academics across the political spectrum as the answer to, or cause of, our post-crash economic malaise. However, despite being the cause of debate for more than three centuries, austerity remains a poorly understood concept. In this book, Suzanne J. Konzelmann aims to demystify austerity as an economic policy, a political idea, and a social phenomenon. Beginning with an analysis of political and socioeconomic history from the seventeenth century, she explains the economics of austerity in the context of the overall dynamics of state spending, tax, and debt. Using comparative case studies from around the world, ranging from the 1930s to post-2008, she then evaluates the outcomes of austerity in light of its stated objectives and analyzes the conditions under which it doesn’t – and occasionally does – work. This accessible introduction to austerity will be essential reading for students and scholars of political economy, economics, and politics, as well as all readers interested in current affairs.Trade Review“Suzanne J. Konzelmann’s book is an incredibly valuable contribution to the growing backlash against austerity. The broad and rich historical and international perspective confirms that these pernicious policies have a track record of failure.”Geoff Tily, senior economist, Trades Union Congress “In the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis, austerity policies were imposed in many countries, with results ranging from disappointing to disastrous. Konzelmann shows how the logic of austerity was fundamentally undermined by the emergence of the welfare state in the twentieth century. Austerity policies threaten the automatic stabilizing effects of a large welfare state, and are therefore counterproductive.”John Quiggin, University of QueenslandTable of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Shifting Responses to the Evolution of National Debt and the Economic Role of the State Chapter 3 National Accounting and the Economics of Austerity Chapter 4 Selling Austerity – Economics, Politics and Society Chapter 5 Austerity and Welfare – An Unstable Mixture: Britain, Germany & the United States between the Wars Chapter 6 Austerity (and Stimulus) in Post-war Chile, America, Ireland and Japan Chapter Some have Austerity thrust upon them, Others Embrace it: Ireland, Greece and the United Kingdom after the 2008 crisis Chapter 8 Post-2008 Variations on Austerity: Iceland and the United States Chapter 9 Austerity’s political economic, ideological and socio-cultural dimensions Chapter 10 Conclusions Notes References
£14.24
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Prosperity and Justice: A Plan for the New
Book SynopsisThe Final Report of the IPPR Commission on Economic Justice The UK economy is broken. It no longer provides rising living standards for the majority. Young people face an increasingly insecure future. The gap between rich and poor areas is widening. Meanwhile the rise of giant digital companies, the advance of automation, and catastrophic environmental degradation challenge the very foundations of our economic model. This important book analyses these profound challenges and sets out a bold vision for change. The report of a group of leading figures from across British society, it explains how the deep weaknesses of the UK economy reflect profound imbalances of economic power. Its radical policy agenda for the 2020s includes new missions to drive productivity and innovation, an overhaul of our financial system, and reforms to improve wages, job quality and the redistribution of wealth. Ten years after the financial crisis, as the UK confronts the challenge of Brexit, this is an urgent and compelling account of the reforms needed to build a new economy of prosperity, justice and environmental sustainability. It will set the terms of political and economic debate for years to come.Trade Review"The Commission makes an irrefutable case that British economic performance must improve, and then suggests a suite of original initiatives aimed at doing just that - Overall this is the most impressive, authoritative and compelling economic analysis and accompanying prescriptions in recent times."—Will Hutton, Principal of Hertford College Oxford and Observer columnist "An inspiration for all those in the UK and elsewhere who are trying to chart a new course for inclusive prosperity."—Dani Rodrik, Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy, Harvard UniversityTable of ContentsPreface The IPPR Commission on Economic Justice Note and Acknowledgements Introduction and overview Part I: Building the new economy Chapter 1: The economy today Chapter 2: Prosperity and justice: a new vision for the economy Chapter 3: Reshaping the economy Chapter 4: Partnership and power Chapter 5: Time for change Part II: Our 10-part plan Chapter 6: Reshaping the economy through industrial strategy Chapter 7: Securing good pay, good jobs and good lives Chapter 8: Turning business towards long-term success Chapter 9: Promoting open markets in the new economy Chapter 10: Raising public investment in a reformed macroeconomic framework Chapter 11: Strengthening the financial system Chapter 12: Spreading wealth and ownership across the economy Chapter 13: Designing simpler and fairer taxes Chapter 14: Ensuring environmental sustainability Chapter 15: Creating a new economic constitution Endnotes
£12.34
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Migration Beyond Capitalism
Book SynopsisHarshly exploited migrant labour plays a fundamental role in the political economy of contemporary capitalism. The abstract and utopian theorising of many liberals and leftists on the migration question often ignores or downplays patterns of displacement and brutal class dynamics, which divide and weaken working people while empowering the ruling class. In this important new book, Hannah Cross provides a sober analysis of the class antagonisms of migration in the context of the nation, social democracy, and the racialized ordering of the world. Bringing Marxist methodology and strategy to a careful analysis of existing emancipatory movements, she sets out the programmes and approaches that are needed to promote global worker solidarity and create a future in which cheap labour is no longer a mainstay of wealthy economies. This focus on the labouring classes allows her to identify some important new directions for migration in a world beyond capitalism, exploitation and injustice. This book will be essential reading for students, scholars and general readers interested in the politics and political economy of migration in a world unhelpfully caught between racist authoritarian capitalism and the wishful-thinking of contemporary left-liberalism.Trade Review“Rooting her approach in the classical Marxist tradition, Hannah Cross provides an original critique of, and alternative to, much leftist and liberal thinking on the political economy of migration into core capitalist countries. Essential reading for all progressives.”Ben Selwyn, University of Sussex “A powerful and original analysis of migration's place in contemporary capitalism. Engaging with an impressive range of leftist debates and authors – both present and past – Cross pushes us to think in new ways about borders, internationalism and class. A much-needed contribution to both Marxism and the literature on migration, and essential reading for those seeking to build a better future.”Adam Hanieh, SOAS, University of London“While the post-materialist and nationalist views on migration are both symptomatic of a left that has resigned itself to the established order, Cross’s analysis points towards the possibility of an independent left position. This left is not content with letting others set the terms of the debate, but is actively building an alternative to the non-choices the ruling class throws at us. This makes Cross’s perspective invaluable for the struggles ahead.”Counterfire “Cross’ approach provides a much-needed reorientation on the discussion around migration. By doing so, Cross effectively demonstrates why an internationalist working-class response is the key to defeating neoliberal power and creating a new world.”Review of African Political Economy “Migration Beyond Capitalism rescues an undoubtedly critical question for the twentieth-first century: the consequences of neoliberal politics over the displacement of the working class throughout the world and, more specifically, the movement from the Global South towards the North.”Marx & Philosophy Review of Books
£17.09
John Wiley and Sons Ltd The Gig Economy: A Critical Introduction
Book SynopsisAll of a sudden, everybody’s talking about the gig economy. From taxi drivers to pizza deliverers to the unemployed, we are all aware of the huge changes that it is driving in our lives as workers, consumers and citizens. This is the first comprehensive overview of this highly topical subject. Drawing upon years of research, stories from gig workers, and a review of the key trends and debates, Jamie Woodcock and Mark Graham shed light on how the gig economy came to be, how it works and what it’s like to work in it. They show that, although it has facilitated innovative new services and created jobs for millions, it is not without cost. It allows businesses and governments to generate value while passing significant risk and responsibility onto the workers that make it possible. This is not, however, an argument for turning back the clock. Instead, the authors outline four strategies that can produce a fairer platform economy that works for everyone. Woodcock and Graham’s critical introduction will be essential reading for students, scholars and general readers interested in the massive shifts that characterize our modern digital economy.Trade Review"Challenging and important, giving voice to workers on the front line of our growing gig economy, this book is a must read for trade unionists, policymakers and everyone with an interest in making work better amidst rapid technological change."Frances O'Grady, Trades Union Congress General Secretary "At a time when governments the world over turn away from workers, scholar-activists Woodcock and Graham offer a critical introduction to the global gig economy. They investigate innovative ways in which new forms of unions can help to tackle the Trojan Horse of gig labour."Trebor Scholz, Director, Institute for the Cooperative Digital Economy at The New School "[A] vital new contribution."Economic & Political WeeklyTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1: Where did the gig economy come from? Chapter 2: How does the gig economy work? Chapter 3: What is it like to work in the gig economy? Chapter 4: How are workers reshaping the gig economy? Conclusion: What’s next for the gig economy? Appendix: Draft Convention on Platform Work Notes References
£14.99
John Wiley and Sons Ltd A Herstory of Economics
Book SynopsisThere were only a few women economists who made it to the surface and whose voices were heard in the history of economic thought of Adam Smith, David Ricardo, John Maynard Keynes, and Milton Friedman – right? Wrong! In this book, distinguished economist Edith Kuiper shows us that the history of economic thought is just that, a his-story, by telling the herstory of economic thought from the perspective of women economic writers and economists. Although some of these women were well known in their time, they were excluded from most of academic economics, and, over the past centuries, their work has been neglected, forgotten, and thus become invisible. Edith Kuiper introduces the reader to an amazing crowd of female pioneers and reveals how their insights are invaluable to understanding areas of economics ranging from production, work, and the economics of the household, to income and wealth distribution, consumption, public policy, and much more. This pathbreaking book presents a whole new perspective on the development of economic thought. It will be essential reading for all students and scholars of the history of economic thought and feminist economics.Trade Review“This excellent detective work solves a kind of murder mystery: it reveals the underappreciated heroines of a remarkably longstanding effort to improve the scope of economic theory.”Nancy Folbre, University of Massachusetts “History is written by the victors, and for too long economics has been dominated by old white men. This pioneering book denounces the male bias in economics and sets the record straight. Edith Kuiper shows that proper consideration for women’s many contributions to economic thinking opens up economics to badly needed new ideas and perspectives. We need less history and more herstory.”Carlo D’Ippoliti, Sapienza University of Rome“A most enlightening book.”The Society of Professional EconomistsTable of ContentsPreface and AcknowledgementsIntroduction Chapter 1. The emergence of Political EconomyChapter 2. Power, agency, and property rightsChapter 3. Education Chapter 4. Women’s relation to wealth: Capital, money, and financeChapter 5. ProductionChapter 6. DistributionChapter 7. Consumption Chapter 8. Government polices Chapter 9. Findings, Feminist Economics, and further explorationsReferences
£17.09
John Wiley and Sons Ltd The Case for Community Wealth Building
Book SynopsisOur broken economic model drives inequality and disempowerment, lining the pockets of corporations while extracting wealth from local communities. How can we reverse this? Joe Guinan and Martin O’Neill argue for an approach that uses the power of democratic participation to drive equitable development and ensure that wealth is widely shared. They show how this model – Community Wealth Building – can transform our economic system by creating a web of collaborative institutions, from worker cooperatives to community land trusts and public banks, that empower and enrich the many, not the few. This book is essential reading for everyone interested in building more equal, inclusive, and democratic societies.Trade Review‘A new approach to economics is needed to tackle grotesque inequalities of wealth and power. Community Wealth Building offers a way for communities to confront corporate power and build a more equal and democratic economy. In this book Joe Guinan and Martin O’Neill show what inspiring action is already happening on the ground and point beyond to what is possible.’Jeremy Corbyn MP, Leader of the Labour Party ‘Change is coming, and another world is not just possible but already within reach. Joe Guinan and Martin O’Neill show how Community Wealth Building approaches can allow every community in the country to play their part in building a new economy from the ground up.’John McDonnell MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer ‘Joe Guinan and Martin O’Neill present a compelling vision of a more just, democratic economy in which wealth and power are more fairly shared. This book should be read by anyone who believes that a different economic order is possible and wants to know how we start to make it happen.’Ed Miliband, MP for Doncaster North and former Leader of the Labour Party ‘If you want to make the city where you live more equal and more democratic, this is the book for you. It shows what local government, institutions, and people can do to create a better world – even without the support of central government. It is at once both practical and inspiring.’Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, authors of The Spirit Level and The Inner Level ‘The Case for Community Wealth Building is an essential guide to a new and devolved economic movement that challenges forty years of neoliberalism and austerity. It articulates real progress towards a transformed and democratic economy.’Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader of Preston City Council Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements Introduction Economic Change, Starting at the Local Level Chapter One What is Community Wealth Building? Chapter Two Taking Control: Arguing for Community Wealth Building Chapter Three Community Wealth Building and the Institutional Turn: Routes to a Democratic Economy Further Reading and Resources for Action Notes
£15.58
John Wiley and Sons Ltd The Case for Medicare for All
Book SynopsisLargely privately funded with relatively little public regulation, the United States healthcare system is both expensive and inefficient, providing poor care to large parts of the population. For decades, Americans have wrestled with how to fix their broken healthcare system. In this razor-sharp contribution to the healthcare debate, leading economist and former adviser to Bernie Sanders Gerald Friedman recommends that we build on what works: a Medicare system that already efficiently provides healthcare for millions of Americans. Rejecting the discredited idea that healthcare should be treated like any other commodity, Friedman shows that healthcare is distinctive and can be best provided only through universal program of social insurance. Deftly exposing the absurdities of the opponents of reform, Friedman shows in detail how the solution to our health care crisis is staring us in the face: enroll everyone in Medicare to improve the health of all Americans. This bold and brilliantly argued book is essential reading for anyone who wants to see Congress and the White House act to provide America with a 21st century healthcare system.Trade Review“As we enter a new era in the fight for universal healthcare in America, Professor Friedman’s book distills the failures of our current system – and the complexities of what should replace it – into a compelling and easy-to-understand explainer for anyone looking to understand Medicare for All. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to go beyond the headlines to get a nuanced account of the politics and policy behind Medicare for All.”Jim McGovern, Congressman for the 2nd District of Massachusetts "We need a clear, concise analysis of universal Medicare in all its forms that cuts through the complexities, and that is what Professor Friedman has given us. As he shows, sixty-five million of us already enjoy its benefits in the U.S., an eloquent demonstration of its superiority in cost and efficiency to the private competition.”Michael Dukakis, Former Governor of Massachusetts and Democratic Party Presidential Nominee 1988 “Professor Friedman is one of the leading thinkers in the country on the economics that underpin universal healthcare coverage. His visionary work in The Case for Medicare for All is just what our country needs right now. The inequities in our current healthcare system are glaring and inexcusable, and I’m grateful to have Professor Friedman’s important and timely research in order to better understand how Massachusetts can transition from our current health care system to a single payer system.”Joanne M. Comerford, Massachussetts State Senator and former Campaign Director at MoveOn “Economics Professor Gerald Friedman has devoted his career to defending Medicare for All. In this convincing book, he explains his reasoning and why America would be transformed for the better.”Walter Tsou, University of PennsylvaniaTable of ContentsFigures and Tables Acknowledgements Preface: We Need Better Introduction: The Failure of Free Market Healthcare Chapter One: Why Markets Cannot Work in Healthcare Chapter Two: Can We Afford Medicare for All? Chapter Three: From Here to There is Politics Chapter Four: Universal Healthcare is Better Economics Because it Acknowledges Human Rights Notes
£8.99
John Wiley and Sons Ltd The Ungovernable Society: A Genealogy of
Book SynopsisRebellion was in the air. Workers were on strike, students were demonstrating on campuses, discipline was breaking down. No relation of domination was left untouched – the relation between the sexes, the racial order, the hierarchies of class, relationships in families, workplaces and colleges. The upheavals of the late 1960s and early 1970s quickly spread through all sectors of social and economic life, threatening to make society ungovernable. This crisis was also the birthplace of the authoritarian liberalism which continues to cast its shadow across the world in which we now live. To ward off the threat, new arts of government were devised by elites in business-related circles, which included a war against the trade unions, the primacy of shareholder value and a dethroning of politics. The neoliberalism that thus began its triumphal march was not, however, determined by a simple ‘state phobia’ and a desire to free up the economy from government interference. On the contrary, the strategy for overcoming the crisis of governability consisted in an authoritarian liberalism in which the liberalization of society went hand-in-hand with new forms of power imposed from above: a ‘strong state’ for a ‘free economy’ became the new magic formula of our capitalist societies. The new arts of government devised by ruling elites are still with us today and we can understand their nature and lasting influence only by re-examining the history of the conflicts that brought them into being.Trade Review‘A comprehensive account, both historical and systematic, of how and why in the 1970s business began to perceive democratic capitalism as ungovernable, and what it tried to do about this: from corporate reform to strengthening the state while weakening democracy. The book adds importantly to our understanding of the neoliberal revolution, its origins and objectives, successes and failures.’Wolfgang Streeck, Emeritus Director and Senior Research Associate, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies, Cologne, Germany ‘Grégoire Chamayou provides a dazzling and wide-ranging genealogy of the intellectual ideas and political strategies which were used to undermine democracy and roll back the economic security and greater equality of the post-war years. An original and rewarding read.’Andrew Gamble, SPERI, University of Sheffield‘With this elegant and important work, Chamayou will surely succeed in bringing out your inner critic of the powers that be.’French CultureTable of ContentsTable of contents:Introduction Part I. Indocile workers Chapter One. Indiscipline on the shop floor Chapter Two. Human resources Chapter Three. Social insecurity Chapter Four. War on the unions Part Two. Managerial revolution Chapter Five. A theological crisis Chapter Six. Ethical managerialism Chapter Seven. Disciplining the managers Chapter Eight. Catallarchy Part Three. Attack on free enterprise Chapter Nine. Private government under siege Chapter Ten. The battle of ideas Chapter Eleven. How to react? Chapter Twelve. The corporation does not exist Chapter Thirteen. Police theories of the firm Part Four. A world of protesters Chapter Fourteen. Corporate counter-activism Chapter Fifteen. The production of the dominant dialogy Chapter Sixteen. Issue management Chapter Seventeen. Stakeholders Part Five. New regulations Chapter Eighteen. Soft law Chapter Nineteen. Costs/benefits Chapter Twenty. A critique of political ecology Chapter Twenty-One. Making people responsible Part Six. The ungovernable state Chapter Twenty-Two. The crisis of governability of the democracies Chapter Twenty-Three. Hayek in Chile Chapter Twenty-Four. The sources of authoritarian liberalism Chapter Twenty-Five. Dethroning politics Chapter Twenty-Six. The micropolitics of privatization Conclusion Notes Index
£18.04
John Wiley and Sons Ltd The Case for a Job Guarantee
Book SynopsisOne of the most enduring ideas in economics is that unemployment is both unavoidable and necessary for the smooth functioning of the economy. This assumption has provided cover for the devastating social and economic costs of job insecurity. It is also false. In this book, leading expert Pavlina R. Tcherneva challenges us to imagine a world where the phantom of unemployment is banished and anyone who seeks decent, living-wage work can find it - guaranteed. This is the aim of the Job Guarantee proposal: to provide a voluntary employment opportunity in public service to anyone who needs it. Tcherneva enumerates the many advantages of the Job Guarantee over the status quo and proposes a blueprint for its implementation within the wider context of the need for a Green New Deal. This compact primer is the ultimate guide to the benefits of one of the most transformative public policies being discussed today. It is essential reading for all citizens and activists who are passionate about social justice and building a fairer economy.Trade Review"The Job Guarantee is the next big, common-sense idea for economic reform. Over years of dedicated work, Pavlina Tcherneva has developed and advanced the plan, and today it stands poised to complement the Green New Deal and Medicare for All as a fundamental pillar of the progressive agenda. Read about it here... and go out to help make it happen."—James K. Galbraith, The University of Texas at Austin "More than any other piece of public policy, the Job Guarantee can help us build a more equitable economy and just society. Pavlina Tcherneva has written the perfect primer for anyone interested in understanding why and how the Job Guarantee can do so much good."—Ady Barkan, Activist and organizer and author of Eyes to the Wind "Pavlina Tcherneva offers an eloquent and convincing argument for a public sector job guarantee as an economic shock absorber. Particularly valuable is her demonstration of how such a program can revitalise local communities. Beyond this, her book is an indispensable primer for advocates of a Green New Deal."—Robert Skidelsky "Tcherneva lays out the case for how we can raise the roof by lifting the floor, as we transition away from a failed and cruel economy based on an assumed percentage of unemployment. She demonstrates how a jobs guarantee can help address some of our biggest challenges, including bridging the gap to a Green New Deal and the critical conversion from a fossil-fuel economy to a sustainable future. Through her book we can see a world where everyone who wants to claim the dignity of work as their own has that right."—Sara Nelson, International President, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIOTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroduction1. A Public Option for Good Jobs2. A Steep Price for a Broken Status Quo3. The Job Guarantee: A New Social Contract and Macroeconomic Model4. But How Will You Pay for It?5. What, Where and How: Jobs, Design, and Implementation6. The Job Guarantee, the Green New Deal, and BeyondNotes
£9.99
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Post Growth: Life after Capitalism
Book SynopsisWinner of the 2022 Eric Zencey Prize in Ecological Economics Capitalism is broken. The relentless pursuit of more has delivered climate catastrophe, social inequality and financial instability – and left us ill-prepared for life in a global pandemic. Tim Jackson’s passionate and provocative book dares us to imagine a world beyond capitalism – a place where relationship and meaning take precedence over profits and power. Post Growth is both a manifesto for system change and an invitation to rekindle a deeper conversation about the nature of the human condition.Now available as an audiobook narrated by the author.Trade Review‘A Reminder that judging political success and national prosperity by the entirely faulty measure of GDP is short-changing the present and the future.’Natalie Bennett, The House Magazine‘fascinating’The BMJ Opinion‘With great sensitivity and wonderful insight, Tim Jackson shows us that there is life after the growth imperative – and it’s a richer, more humane form of life. With its blend of science, history and biographical detail, Post Growth was a delight to read and gave me much to think about.’Svend Brinkmann – Author of The Joy of Missing Out ‘Through the window of our pandemic lockdown Jackson sees both the sins of capitalism and the renewal of hope. An instructive and stimulating read!’Herman Daly – Author of Steady State Economics ‘Tim Jackson’s compelling postgrowth vision strikes at the heart of today’s greatest existential challenge and human predicament: either we continue to propagate a capitalistic growth paradigm that fosters inequality, climate and health crises or we build our lives and livelihoods around a holistic system providing what is truly meaningful.’Sandrine Dixson-Declève – Co-President, The Club of Rome‘Joyous… Post Growth is one of the best written economic tomes I have read in a long while.’Dollars and Sense‘Post Growth is perhaps the most imaginative book I’ve read on the topic of economic growth, a lyrical and thoughtful account of where capitalism fails and the many ways that things could be done better.’The Earthbound Project‘Written almost as much in poetry as in prose, it is offered as a string of vignettes and parables giving us insights into what’s wrong with the way our economy works and what we can do to change it.’Ecologist ‘This book demonstrates that changing the current economic paradigm is not a crazy dream, but a real – and absolutely essential – possibility. For all of us. Right now. Taking the world towards the sustainable development we need is a revolution waiting to happen, if we only allow it.’Enrico Giovannini – Former Chief Statistician, OECD ‘Tim Jackson appeals to humanity's incredible ingenuity by replacing the tunnel vision of mainstream economics with a tour d'horizon of how good lives for all are perfectly possible without costing the Earth.’Maja Göpel, The New Institute‘Post Growth can be read as a playbook of how to turn the categorical imperative back on its feet again, how to build a world where equal rights to production and consumption do not ruin the planet, and how to subordinate the economy to a broader reflection on its purpose.’Green European Journal‘Jackson writes beautifully’Green House‘Abounds with prescriptions for the “economy of tomorrow” that challenge the orthodoxies of today… intriguing.’The Guardian ‘Post growth is one of the most important ideas of the 21st century, and Tim Jackson one of its most powerful proponents. Don’t miss this brilliant new book.’Jason Hickel – Author of Less is More ‘An unapologetic, clear-eyed vision.’Kerry Kennedy – President of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights ‘A thrilling intellectual journey towards a post growth world.’Roman Krznaric – Author of The Good Ancestor ‘Some call Tim Jackson’s thesis about capitalism’s flaws, and proposed remedies, provocative. After two decades as a successful capitalist (or so they tell me) I don’t find it provocative at all, rather an existential imperative.’Jeremy Leggett – Founder of Solarcentury and SolarAid ‘Utterly inspiring … an urgent and eloquent plea for radical change.’Caroline Lucas – MP, Green Party ‘A tour de force, sinuous, disruptive – and a masterpiece of measured rage and love.’Jonathon Porritt – Author of Hope in Hell ‘Extraordinary, powerful and beautifully written – difficult to put down.’Mamphela Ramphele – Co-President, The Club of Rome ‘Economic wisdom wrapped up in poetry … A beautiful read.’Kate Raworth – Author of Doughnut Economics ‘Razor-sharp analysis and powerful storytelling’Johan Rockström – Professor of Earth Systems Science ‘An expansive, wise and uplifting work that will reorient the conversation. Highly recommended.’Juliet Schor – Author of After the Gig ‘Jackson is the great storyteller of economics – of what economies can and should be. In this book he draws on the stories of original thinkers near and far to show that post growth – a future beyond capitalism – is not just necessary for our planet, but also to sustain our human spirit.’Julia Steinberger – University of Lausanne ‘This is an important and urgent book. Tim Jackson exposes the cult of growth which is leading us down a path of human misery and destruction of the natural world. A book of questions, interwoven with stories and philosophy: our collective challenge is to create the answers.’Jo Swinson – Director, Partners for a New Economy ‘Tim Jackson offers us a book that is both honest and hopeful. It gently lets its stark messages unfold through writing that is often more like poetry than political prose. As rich in imagery as it is grounded with examples and clear explanations of why our economy is in urgent need of recalibration, this is a book that future generations will be glad was written.’Katherine Trebeck – Author of The Economics of Arrival ‘It is harder and harder to deny that we in the “developed” world are collectively prisoners of an addictive delusion – the myth of constantly increasing economic growth. In this brief but weighty book, Tim Jackson exposes this myth with unambiguous clarity, and asks whether we are able to seize the opportunities for tough self-questioning prompted by the current global crisis.’Rowan Williams – 104th Archbishop of Canterbury ‘Empowering and elegiac’Yanis Varoufakis – Author of Another NowTable of ContentsPrologue Chapter 1. The Myth of Growth Chapter 2. Who Killed Capitalism? Chapter 3. The Limited and the Limitless Chapter 4. The Nature of Prosperity Chapter 5. Of Love and Entropy Chapter 6. Economics as Storytelling Chapter 7. The Return to Work Chapter 8. A Canopy of Hope Chapter 9. The Art of Power Chapter 10. Dolphins in Venice Acknowledgements References Notes
£13.49
John Wiley and Sons Ltd How to Fight Inequality: (and Why That Fight
Book SynopsisInequality is the crisis of our time. The growing gap between a few at the top and the rest of society damages us all. No longer able to deny the crisis, every government in the world is now pledged to fix it – and yet it keeps on getting worse. In this book, international anti-inequality campaigner Ben Phillips shows why winning the debate is not enough: we have to win the fight. Drawing on his insider experience, and his personal exchanges with the real-life heroes of successful movements, he shows how the battle against inequality has been won before, and he shares a practical plan for defeating inequality again. He sets a route map for us to overcome deference, build our collective power, and create a new story. Most books on inequality are about what other people ought to do about it – this book is about why winning the fight needs you. Tired of feeling helpless in the face of spiralling inequality? Want to know what you can do about it? This is the book for you.Trade Review“This powerful book makes clear why we cannot rely on elites to fix inequality and why it is up to us, together. Ben Phillips introduces us to the frontline heroes of the fight against inequality, and shows how we have won previous struggles and can win now.” Winnie Byanyima, former executive director of Oxfam International “Inequality would not be a major issue around the world without the work of Ben Phillips. He has helped mobilize people power to transform the imbalances that destabilize our economies and scar our communities. This practical book empowers readers with the data, information, arguments and advice they need to be able to help bring an end to this crisis.” Ann Pettifor, author of The Case for the Green New Deal “Ben Phillips is a stalwart campaigner for a fairer world. How to Fight Inequality is a handy primer to help people to build power together.”John Githongo “Ben Phillips has helped bring global attention to the inequality crisis. How to Fight Inequality is an ideal guide for anyone who wants to help. He brings to the book lessons and stories from a lifetime deeply enmeshed in activism and organising, finding hope not in famous leaders but in everyday people, and helping set out how each of us can get engaged in building a more equal society.”Naila Kabeer “We now know just how harmful inequality is to us all. But can anything be done about it? Ben Phillips’s smart new book is packed with powerful stories of change won from the ground up, helps guide us in what we can do by organising together, and demonstrates that a more equal future is ours to make.”Kate Pickett “Inequality defines our present but it is not our fate. In Ben Phillips’s crisp guide he shows from past victories and today’s vibrant new movements a way we can win. His first-hand stories from ‘extraordinary, ordinary people’ winning change illustrate how together we have the power to beat inequality.”Kumi Naidoo “Most of us know how severe – and how dangerous – inequality has become. The debates have been won, but the problem keeps getting worse. Now we must win the fight. And there can be no spectators: it is up to you and me to make change happen. As US President Lyndon Johnson once told Martin Luther King: ‘I know what I have to do – but you have to make me do it.’ Ben Phillips’ short, sharp, powerful book provides a rousing call for action, and draws on the hard lessons of history to create an essential how-to guide to what works and what doesn’t, in the epoch-defying struggle of our new gilded age.”Nicholas Shaxson
£14.24
John Wiley and Sons Ltd The Asset Economy
Book SynopsisRising inequality is the defining feature of our age. With the lion’s share of wealth growth going to the top, for a growing percentage of society a middle-class existence is out of reach. What exactly are the economic shifts that have driven the social transformations taking place in Anglo-capitalist societies? In this timely book, Lisa Adkins, Melinda Cooper and Martijn Konings argue that the rise of the asset economy has produced a new logic of inequality. Several decades of property inflation have seen asset ownership overshadow employment as a determinant of class position. Exploring the impact of generational dynamics in this new class landscape, the book advances an original perspective on a range of phenomena that are widely debated but poorly understood – including the growth of wealth inequalities and precarity, the dynamics of urban property inflation, changes in fiscal and monetary policy and the predicament of the “millennial” generation. Despite widespread awareness of the harmful effects of Quantitative Easing and similar asset-supporting measures, we appear to have entered an era of policy “lock-in” that is responsible for a growing disconnect between popular expectations and institutional priorities. The resulting polarization underlies many of the volatile dynamics and rapidly shifting alliances that dominate today’s headlines.Trade Review“Adkins, Cooper and Konings make a timely and persuasive attack on generational and electoral understandings of contemporary class conflict and class reproduction. This is a must read for understanding the politics around the increasingly Minsky-like dynamics of the housing market.”Herman Mark Schwartz, University of Virginia “In teasing out the logic of the booming asset economy, Lisa Adkins and her co-authors brilliantly update the analysis of class and inequality for the twenty-first century. This outstanding book will prove a vital point of reference to academics, students, and the wider public.”Mike Savage, London School of Economics“A timely, engaging and important book. If treated with the seriousness it deserves, The Asset Economy should set the agenda for future socio-logical studies of class and inequality concerned with their economic reproduction.”Sociology“This book offers an important and timely analytical lens by which we can better theorize the growth of contemporary inequality and exploitation.”Uneven Earth“a highly readable and timely intervention”LSE Review of Books“The book is an enjoyable read while persuasively and concisely unpacking the very foundations underpinning current societal challenges of inequality. A must read, not only for scholars interested in housing and the political economy of drivers of inequality, but highly recommended for all those implicated in the socio-economic structure it unpacks – in other words, everyone.”International Journal of Housing Policy“Excellent” Annie Lowrey, The AtlanticTable of Contents1. Introduction 2. Asset Logics 3. The Making of the Asset Economy 4. New Class Realities 5. Conclusion References
£14.24
John Wiley and Sons Ltd The New Economics: A Manifesto
Book SynopsisIn 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the wall of Wittenberg church. He argued that the Church’s internally consistent but absurd doctrines had pickled into a dogmatic structure of untruth. It was time for a Reformation. Half a millennium later, Steve Keen argues that economics needs its own Reformation. In Debunking Economics, he eviscerated an intellectual church – neoclassical economics – that systematically ignores its own empirical untruths and logical fallacies, and yet is still mysteriously worshipped by its scholarly high priests. In this book, he presents his Reformation: a New Economics, which tackles serious issues that today's economic priesthood ignores, such as money, energy and ecological sustainability. It gives us hope that we can save our economies from collapse and the planet from ecological catastrophe. Performing this task with his usual panache and wit, Steve Keen’s new book is unmissable to anyone who has noticed that the economics Emperor is naked and would like him to put on some clothes.Trade ReviewOne of Martin Wolf's 'Best Books of 2021: Economics' in the Financial Times“It is written not to interpret economics, but to change it.”Financial Times“In this punchy and passionate book, Steve Keen deftly unravels the fundamentals of neoclassical economics – and then starts to weave together the mindset, models and maths of an economics that actually works. For any student of economic modelling who wants to help create tools that are fit for the twenty-first century, this is the handbook and call to action you have been waiting for.”Kate Raworth, author of Doughnut Economics“This is a brilliant book. It deals with a crucial subject, and it does so with precision, wit and accessible prose.”Dissident VoiceTable of Contents1 Why this manifesto? 2 Money matters 3 Our complex world 4 Economics, energy and the environment 5 The Neoclassical disease 6 Conclusion: Be the change Notes References
£32.00
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Decolonizing Economics: An Introduction
Book SynopsisIs economics a neutral scientific field, or is it riddled with eurocentric biases that stem from its origins in the development of capitalism, colonialism, and slavery? This book makes the case that economics cannot extricate itself from its highly problematic imperial context without a rigorous process of decolonization, which must involve questioning and re-assessing the development of the field and how it came to be represented as a universal and objective science. In doing so, argue the authors, we can challenge the existing intellectual hierarchies and show that the field as it stands now has become ill-equipped to tackle the critical questions of our time, such as structural racism, environmental crisis, informal labour relations and the role of power in shaping economic outcomes. A decolonized economics can help us pioneer alternative – and better – ways of understanding economic questions by introducing key interventions by non-Western thinkers and non-eurocentric theories. This is a critical guide for anyone intellectually curious to understand how economics can be decolonized and what can be learned from a decolonized economics.
£47.50
John Wiley and Sons Ltd The Case for a New Bretton Woods
Book SynopsisAfter the 2008–9 global financial crisis, reforms to promote stability, social inclusion, and sustainability were promised but not delivered. As a result, the global economic situation, marred by inequality, volatility, and climate breakdown, remains dysfunctional. Now, the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic offers us a second chance. Kevin Gallagher and Richard Kozul-Wright argue that we must grasp it by implementing sweeping reforms to how we govern global money, finance, and trade. Without global leaders prepared to boldly rewrite the rules to promote a prosperous, just, and sustainable post-Covid world economic order – a Bretton Woods moment for the twenty-first century – we risk being engulfed by climate chaos and political dysfunction. This book provides a blueprint for change that no one interested in the future of our planet can afford to miss.Trade Review“The world economy desperately needs a new deal. Few, if any, analysts are better placed to describe the transformation required than Kevin Gallagher and Richard Kozul-Wright.”Dani Rodrik, Harvard University “If the Bad Samaritans of global governance really want to turn a page and build back better from the Covid-19 crisis they could find no better place to start than by dipping in to this punchy volume.”Ha-Joon Chang, University of CambridgeTable of ContentsChapter 1: The Fierce Urgency of Now: The Case for a New Bretton Woods Moment Chapter 2: The Origins and Antinomies of the Multilateral System Chapter 3: Building Back a Better International Monetary and Financial System Chapter 4: Re-aligning the Trade and Investment Regime Chapter 5: Catalyzing Development Finance Chapter 6: Crises, Reform and Countervailing Power Bibliography
£9.99
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Marxian Economics: An Introduction
Book SynopsisMore and more people have turned to Marxian economics in recent years. But isn’t it a defunct branch of the ‘dismal science’, disproven by the experience of the past 150 years, of no interest to anyone except historians? In this book, David Ruccio demonstrates why the answer to that question is a resounding ‘no’. He offers a clear and accessible introduction to the basic concepts and theoretical strategies of Marxian economics, its key differences from mainstream economics, and its many applications to the real world. Focusing on Marx’s critique of both mainstream economic theory and capitalism, Ruccio extends that analysis to contemporary topics—from inequality and economic crises to racial capitalism and the climate crisis—and outlines the key debates among Marxian economists. He concludes with a discussion of the ways Marxian economists today think about the possibility of moving beyond capitalism. The book is suitable for students and professors, as well as readers outside the academy interested in learning about Marxian economics. It will be useful both as a stand-alone text and as a companion to reading Capital.Trade Review“This is a very important, timely book. Capitalism's three crashes since 2000 plus its ever-deepening inequalities lead people everywhere to seek the kinds of critical analysis Marx exemplified and that David Ruccio has built upon. Ruccio is well prepared and positioned to bring a powerful and directly relevant Marxian economics to a time that needs it more than ever.”Richard D. Wolff, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and founder of Democracy at Work “Marxism remains central to our understanding of capitalism and the inequities it creates. Marxism as a theory also requires regular scrutiny and rethinking as economies evolve. Ruccio's book provides both a solid treatment of the basic principles and the foundations for the rethinking that must be part of any meaningful paradigm. Amidst the vast literature, this book is a standout. It is sophisticated and accessible, crisply written and consistently relevant.”William Milberg, The New School for Social ResearchTable of ContentsAbout the AuthorPrefaceAcknowledgementsGlossaryReferencesVariablesPart 1Chapter 1 Marxian Economics TodayChapter 2 Marxian Versus Mainstream EconomicsChapter 3 Origins of the Marxian Critique of Political EconomyPart 2Chapter 4 Commodities and MoneyChapter 5 Surplus-Value and ExploitationChapter 6 Profits, Wages, and Distribution of Surplus-ValuePart 3Chapter 7 Applications of Marxian EconomicsChapter 8 Debates in and around Marxian EconomicsChapter 9 Transitions to and from CapitalismNotesIndex
£17.09
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Reclaiming Populism: How Economic Fairness Can
Book SynopsisPopulist upheavals like Trump, Brexit, and the Gilets Jaunes happen when the system really is rigged. Citizens the world over are angry not due to income inequality or immigration, but economic unfairness: that opportunity is not equal and reward is not according to contribution. This forensic book draws on original research, cited by the UN and IMF, to demonstrate that illiberal populism strikes hardest when success is influenced by family origins rather than talent and effort. Protzer and Summerville propose a framework of policy inputs that instead support high social mobility, and apply it to diagnose the differing reasons behind economic unfairness in the US, UK, Italy, and France. By striving for a fair, socially-mobile economy, they argue, it is possible to craft a politics that reclaims the reasonable grievances behind populism. Reclaiming Populism is a must-read for policymakers, scholars, and citizens who want to bring disenchanted populist voters back into the fold of liberal democracy.Trade Review“Highly recommended"Vancouver Sun“Eric Protzer at Harvard and his [Canadian] collaborator, Paul Summerville, have crunched vast amounts of data from opinion polls and social surveys to address the question “why populism?” and they give us some clues about how to counter it ... they come to some highly significant conclusions. The usual explanations from the left (that populist politics is a response to growing inequality) or from the right (that it is due to permissive immigration policies) both appear to be wrong. Rather, what lies behind the political rage which produces populist politics is a generalised sense of “unfairness” which arises from a decline in social mobility and frustrated opportunities. In other words, people have little objection to a minority becoming “filthy rich,” provided it is achieved through hard work, risk taking or good luck when opportunities are open to all and provided the wealthy are contributing as well as being rewarded.”Vince Cable, The Independent“The growing economic inequality we see today has failed to explain how populism arises in some places such as the United States and not in others. And government measures to encourage more equal outcomes have failed to combat populism. Eric Protzer and Paul Summerville argue persuasively in Reclaiming Populism that electorates tolerate inequality but not what they see as economic unfairness, especially in times of limited social mobility. This thought-provoking book should be read by anyone wanting to understand and deal with today’s turn to populism.”Christopher Gainor – author, historian“By focusing so well on the lack of social mobility as a major contributor to the rise of populism, this book makes a big contribution to the debate about how to create better, more productive, and fairer societies”Bob Rae“Reclaiming Populism provides much needed insights into the reasons for populism. By debunking popular explanations, it shows why we need to create fairer societies and how this can be achieved.”Professor Ian Goldin, Oxford University “This book is an important contribution to the vital debate about why so many voters feel disenchanted and how to assuage their concerns. As the authors show with rigorous analysis and empirical research, it is the lack of opportunity, not an absence of equality, that is undermining the social contract in Western societies - and it is only by giving people the chance to realise their potential that we can start to repair it. Wherever you sit on the political spectrum, no matter where in the West you live, this book has something for you.”Will Tanner, Director of Onward “Reclaiming Populism is a must read for all those who think we are going through some weird era, that populism is some kind of strange unjust phenomenon and realise that there are numerous examples of unfairness out there that require proper policy attention in order to make capitalism work better. I have become a big believer of Profit with Purpose in recent years, and especially following the tragedy of Covid-19 the issues that relate to fairness of policy and the rise of populist backlashes need to be treated in a much more open manner. And as the authors demonstrate, much oft perceived causes of anger are often incorrect diagnoses, and dealing with issues in a fairer way lies at the heart of a better society and world.”Jim O'Neill, ex Commercial Secretary to the UK Treasury, ex Chief Economist of Goldman Sachs, Senior Advisor to Chatham House “This book is a timely reminder of the fundamental importance of making thoughtful political choices with a laser focus on fairness - "promoting equal opportunities and fair unequal outcomes" - because it is a winning formula. Protzer and Summerville's work comes at a critical juncture with a concerning number of possible shocks and opportunities for cheating in the mixed economic responses to the pandemic, the evolution of geo-politics and dominance shifts, intergenerational inequality and the pressure that the climate crisis places on policy makers. We can all learn the lesson that "fairness is a critical policy input." The book provides considerable food for thought, and refreshingly with practical solutions. It shouldn't be surprising to say, but sadly it still is, that embedding economic fairness is the key for the future of any pluralist trying to reclaim populism.”Annabel Mullin - Principal Consultant at OneFifty Consultancy, Co-Founder - Stand for Something“Protzer and Summerville contribute astutely to a large and varied literature on inequality with a work of sharp and timely analysis. Reclaiming Populism asserts that there is an ethic of fairness that underlies, or should underlie, economic arrangements. Their insight that a "fairness principle" is being undermined in a "rigged system" where "forgotten people' are desperately trying to communicate their pain through the populist channel, is deliciously incisive. Protzer and Summerville offer a set of policy prescriptions that are carefully calibrated to the subtle sense of unfairness that has governed the emergence of so many populist movements in recent years. This book is a home run.”Allan Dwyer, Associate Professor of Finance, Mount Royal University (Calgary)“Why have electorates around the world become more susceptible to populist political ideas? Is it income and wealth inequality? Is it immigration? Is it globalisation? Is it social media? According to Protzer & Summerville, it’s none of these. This deep, data rich analysis of the root cause of rising populism ekes out a more subtle but profound answer to the dilemma of our age. To paraphrase Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign strategist James Carville, “It’s fairness, stupid.” With a profound understanding of our natural Fairness Instinct as its foundation, this important book brings the current system’s flaws into sharp relief. Any politician wishing to find the centre of political gravity should read it.”Andrew McNally, CEO of Equitile Investments and Author of Debtonator – How Debt Favours the Few“A expert and even-tempered dissection of the myths of populism. It exposes the fundamental tensions that underlie the twin ideals of freedom and equality. By highlighting the crucial difference between equal opportunity and equal outcomes, the authors show how economic fairness is the best resolving chord.”John Brodie Donald, Author of Catataxis: When more of the same is different“Controversial and self-consciously provocative to be sure, this is a timely, thoughtful, original and even brave book that should be read by all those troubled by the rise of populism and the worrisome state of contemporary democracy.”Chris Watson, Former National Director, New Democratic Party of Canada“This clearly written and well researched book offers a fresh perspective on our current political malaise. It argues that an old-fashioned virtue – fairness – offers the way forward. Increasing equality of opportunity and social mobility is the road back to prosperity, pluralism and democratic resilience.”Rod Tiffen, University of Sydney“A deeply researched and trenchant examination of the economic forces that have led to populist movements in North America and Europe. Critically, the authors lay out how crucial it is for policymakers to create economic policies that are widely perceived by citizens as fair, stressing the vital importance of equality of opportunity for all.”Bill Powell, Chief Washington Correspondent, Newsweek Magazine“You think income inequality causes populism? Think again! Reclaiming Populism convincingly argues that the issue is not how unequal income is, it is the lack of social mobility. Unlike so many books on populism, the authors propose a policy agenda to guide action so that accidents of birth do not determine a person’s chances in life.”Ricardo Hausmann, Harvard University“Concise, clear and convincing… It takes populism seriously and makes a valuable contribution to the debate.”Nikkei AsiaTable of ContentsForeword Chapter 1 – The Inequality Delusion and Other Scapegoats for Populism Chapter 2 – The Fairness Instinct Chapter 3 – Economic Unfairness and the Rise of Populism Chapter 4 – The Twin Virtues of Equal Opportunity and Fair Unequal Outcomes Chapter 5 – Constraints and Solutions to Economic Fairness Conclusion – Scripting A Path Forward References
£14.24
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Democracy at Work: Contract, Status and
Book SynopsisIn the countries of the global North, workplace democracy may be thought of as a thing of the past. Increasingly, working relations are regulated primarily by contract; workforces are fissured and fragmented. What are the consequences of this? How should we respond? Ruth Dukes and Wolfgang Streeck argue that the time is ripe to restate the principles of industrial democracy and citizenship for the post-industrial era. Considering developments within political economy, employment relations and labour law since the postwar decades, they trace the rise of globalization and the ‘dualization’ of labour markets – the emergence of a core and periphery of workers – and the progressive insulation of working relations from democratic governance. What these developments amount to, they argue, is an urgent need for political intervention to tame the new world of ‘gigging’ and other forms of highly precarious work. This, according to the authors, will require far-reaching institution-building designed to fill legal concepts such as ‘employment’ with political substance. This eloquent call for a reimagining and renewal of the institutional and material conditions of freedom of association and the reinvention of industrial democracy will be crucial reading for anyone interested in work in the twenty-first century.Trade Review"Advanced economies are faced with changing forms of work that depart more and more from the employment contract model. We have empirical evidence on all sorts of aspects and problems related to them but still lack the conceptual tools that can guide the analysis and enable a clearer public debate. This book by Dukes and Streeck is a timely rescue that lucidly updates the frameworks of labour law and of social theory to today's challenges around work."Guglielmo Meardi, Scuola Normale Superiore, Florence"Democracy at Work provides a compelling analysis of the past and future of employment relations and of the attempts to regulate them, building on classic thinkers of the past to analyse the consequences of digitalization, liberalization and globalization. Professors Dukes and Streeck have produced a work of outstanding depth and scope that will be essential reading for anyone interested in labour law, employment and the future of work."Alexandre Afonso, Leiden UniversityTable of ContentsPreface1. Introduction2. Justice, Productivity and Power at Work3. The Rise and Fall of Industrial Citizenship4. Liberalization as Emancipation?5. Post-Industrial Justice?References
£15.19
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Why the West is Failing: Failed Economics and the
Book SynopsisLow growth has become the economic default in the West. While China and other Asian Tigers continue to steam ahead, western commentators either argue that stagnation is inevitable, ignoring growth in order to focus on other factors such as inflation or inequality, or disclaim growth altogether. In Why the West is Failing, veteran businessman and economist John Mills strongly refutes these arguments. He maintains that the anaemic performance of western economies since the 1970s is due to the dominance of a policy framework that has fatally ignored the importance of industrial competitiveness. He shows that the key to driving up productivity – and thereby growth – is to promote a revival of manufacturing through investment and a competitive exchange rate policy. This would produce the extra resources needed to tackle climate change and reduce the risk of western politics continuing to spiral towards populist excess. It would also allow us to impede the baleful political consequences of Chinese economic domination.Trade Review"Attempts to level up Britain will be in vain unless there is a revival of the manufacturing base and an improvement in the balance of trade, which has now been in deficit for four decades. In this provocative book, John Mills lays out a plan for how this much-needed renaissance might happen."Larry Elliott, The Guardian "If ever there was a time for new economic solutions and fresh ideas, it is now. Mills is one of the few economic thinkers to present the bold ideas needed to lift Britain out of economic crisis. His book has the big thinking this country needs."Rt Hon. Caroline Flint, former Government MinisterTable of ContentsCHAPTER 1 – What has Gone Wrong? CHAPTER 2 - Economic Growth CHAPTER 3 – Economic History CHAPTER 4 – Is Faster Growth Desirable? CHAPTER 5 – Is Faster Growth Feasible? CHAPTER 6 – Conclusion Notes
£15.19
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Slavery, Capitalism and the Industrial Revolution
Book SynopsisThe role of slavery in driving Britain's economic development is often debated, but seldom given a central place. In their remarkable new book, Maxine Berg and Pat Hudson ‘follow the money’ to document in revealing detail the role of slavery in the making of Britain’s industrial revolution. Slavery was not just a source of wealth for a narrow circle of slave owners who built grand country houses and filled them with luxuries. The forces set in motion by the slave and plantation trades seeped into almost every aspect of the economy and society. In textile mills, iron and copper smelting, steam power, and financial institutions, slavery played a crucial part. Things we might think far removed from the taint of slavery, such as eighteenth-century fashions for indigo-patterned cloth, sweet tea, snuff boxes, mahogany furniture, ceramics and silverware, were intimately connected. Even London’s role as a centre for global finance was partly determined by the slave trade as insurance, financial trading and mortgage markets were developed in the City to promote distant and risky investments in enslaved people. The result is a bold and unflinching account of how Britain became a global superpower, and how the legacy of slavery persists. Acknowledging Britain’s role in slavery is not just about toppling statues and renaming streets. We urgently need to come to terms with slavery’s inextricable links with Western capitalism, and the ways in which many of us continue to benefit from slavery to this day.Trade Review‘In this impeccably wresearched piece of scholarship, Berg and Hudson provide a comprehensive account of how slavery shaped British industrialisation. Building on the pioneering insights of Eric Williams, the authors forensically demonstrate the dynamic role of the slave economy across a wide range of sectors of economic, social and cultural activity in Britain. Written in a lucid and accessible style, this landmark study makes a powerful contribution to our understanding of the global history of slavery, and lays an ideal foundation for developing a mature public conversation about slavery in contemporary Britain.’Sudhir Hazareesingh, University of Oxford, and author of Black Spartacus: the Epic Life of Toussaint Louverture‘Inspired by recent debates, Berg and Hudson--eminent historians of British industrialisation--address its ignominious connections to slavery. They bring to that crucial and challenging task a wealth of historical knowledge, an intellectual boldness and subtlety, as well as the humility to learn from other scholars. The book that results encourages us to reflect on the manifold and complex ways in which the enslavement and exploitation of millions of human beings shaped the historical trajectories and legacies of British capitalism.’Mary O’Sullivan, University of Geneva‘The past four decades have seen a revolution in our understanding of the take-off to economic growth. Modern scholarship increasingly rejects simplistic accounts based on the experiences of countries viewed in isolation; instead, it emphasises international linkages of many kinds, including slavery. In this volume, two of the leading historians of the Industrial Revolution provide an authoritative, accessible and indispensable account of the role played by slavery in that momentous transformation.’Kevin O’Rourke, New York University, Abu Dhabi'One of the most important political economy books published this century. Maxine Berg and Pat Hudson's wake-up call for greater awareness of slavery's role in Britain's economic pre-eminence is backed by their expert detective work uncovering the sheer size and reach of the tentacles of the slave trade in the British economy since the 17th century. Slavery, Capitalism and the Industrial Revolution should be essential reading in order to understand the real cost and legacy of slavery and empire.'Colin Thain, University of BirminghamTable of ContentsIntroductionChapter 1: Slavery and the British economy: how the slave and plantation trades worked and how they changedChapter 2: Slavery and the British industrial revolution: misleading measuresChapter 3: A revolution in consumption: sugar and other plantation productsChapter 4: Plantation innovation and Atlantic scienceChapter 5: British ‘slave ports’ and their hinterlands: structural and regional transformationChapter 6: Iron and copper revolutions: metals, hardware and miningChapter 7: Textile revolutionsChapter 8: Financial capitalismChapter 9: Slavery after slavery: legacies of race and inequalityChapter 10: Slavery, capitalism and the economic history of Britain
£23.75
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Migration as Economic Imperialism: How
Book SynopsisFor several decades, wealthy states, international development agencies and multinational corporations have encouraged labour migration from the Global South to the Global North. As well as providing essential workers to support the transformation of advanced economies, the remittances that migrants send home have been touted as the most promising means of national development for poor and undeveloped countries. As Immanuel Ness argues in this sharp corrective to conventional wisdom, temporary labour migration represents the most recent form of economic imperialism and global domination. A closer look at the economic and social evidence demonstrates that remittances deepen economic exploitation, unravel societal stability and significantly expand economic inequality between poor and rich societies. The book exposes the damaging political, economic and social effects of migration on origin countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and how border and security mechanisms control and marginalize low-wage migrant workers, especially women and youth. Ness asserts that remittances do not bring growth to poor countries but extend national dependence on the export of migrant workers, leading to warped and unequal development on the global periphery. This expert take will be a valuable resource for students and scholars of migration and development across the social sciences.Trade Review‘Whether named colonialism, neocolonialism or globalization, imperialism still organizes much of the world economy. This book systematically locates labour migration within the capitalist imperialism that overdetermines it . . . thereby adding an overdue critical perspective to the study of labour migration.’Richard D. Wolff, The New School, New York‘In this insightful critique of the migration‒development nexus, Ness argues for rethinking migration as a benefit to sending countries. Through a global economic imperialism lens, he proposes that labor migration is one more peg in the extractive history of wealthy countries, further disempowering poorer sending countries. This meaningful intervention in debates about labour migration will be of great interest and will be read widely.’Cecilia Menjívar, University of California, Los Angeles‘Manny Ness is a tireless labor historian whose many works occupy significant space on any well-stocked bookshelf. His latest release […] shows that there is an urgent need to tie [migration and imperialism] together.’LeftTwoThree‘In this well researched and informative book, Ness digs into multiple facets of the global economy of migration. […] The essential role of migrant labor in global capitalism tends to be underappreciated, and Ness performs a valuable service in exposing the widespread and destabilizing dynamics of that process.’CounterpunchTable of ContentsIntroductionChapter 1 Neoliberal Capitalism, Imperialism, and Labour MigrationChapter 2 Underdevelopment and Labour Migration as Economic ImperialismChapter 3 Labour Migration and Origin CountriesChapter 4 Labour Migration and Destination StatesChapter 5 The Damage of BordersConclusion: Dismantling the Migration–Development Nexus
£18.04
John Wiley and Sons Ltd The New Age of Catastrophe
Book SynopsisThe world is entering a new age of catastrophe. The exceptional is becoming normal. The last such crisis, between 1914 and 1945, witnessed two world wars, the Great Depression, and the Holocaust. Now humankind faces fresh existential threats – the COVID-19 pandemic, wildfires, floods and other extreme weather events caused by accelerating climate change, and the danger of nuclear war in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. These threats, argues Alex Callinicos, have their common source in a multidimensional crisis of the capitalist system, which is hitting the buffers, hurling us towards societal collapse. It embraces the increasing destruction of nature and the degradation of labour, a world economy stagnant since the global financial crisis, and escalating inter-imperialist conflicts between the United States, China, and Russia. So far, the main political beneficiary has been the far right, which may capture the White House again. But the new age of catastrophe is also an age of revolt. Following on from Black Lives Matter, the #MeToo protests, and the revolts in Sudan, Sri Lanka, and Iran, multiple faultlines in the system will provoke still more mass movements that can challenge myriad forms of oppression and open the way to a just and sustainable world.Trade Review"This splendid new book by one of the world’s foremost Marxist thinkers is essential reading to understand the permanent state of emergency that characterises contemporary politics, its history, its causes and the path to an alternative. Callinicos’s lucid effort to reflect from a unified perspective on the multiple crises – environmental, economic, geopolitical, social – the world confronts is as intellectually rewarding as it is politically urgent."Lea Ypi, London School of Economics"A timely, informative and highly readable commentary for anyone wanting to make sense of the turmoil of world affairs today."Justin Rosenberg, University of Sussex"Covid. Economic immiseration. War. We are living in a time of perpetual crisis. Crisis is inherent to capitalism, and as Alex Callinicos compellingly argues in his new book, to avert catastrophe, we must confront capitalism."Paul A. Passavant, Hobart and William Smith Colleges“Vital reading for anyone who wants to be part of the struggle for a future we can live in.”Socialist WorkerTable of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1 Antechamber to the Present Chapter 2 The Destruction of Nature Chapter 3 Economic Stagnation Chapter 4 Hegemonic Decline and Geopolitical Antagonism Chapter 5 Revolt and Reaction Chapter 6 Pulling the Emergency Cord Select Bibliography
£17.09
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Making Money Work for Us: How MMT Can Save
Book SynopsisIs money precious and scarce, necessitating iron fiscal discipline? Must the government always balance the books or risk ruin? Or is money, in fact, a flexible tool that can be used to mobilize our collective resources to serve those who need them? In this book, leading Modern Money Theory (MMT) advocate Randy Wray explains that the only real constraints on public policy are physical resources, technological capacity and political will: but never money. He shows how modern sovereign governments spend by keystroking money to bank accounts. While taxes serve other important purposes, they do not – contrary to popular belief – fund spending. If we recognize this, and totally reframe how we think about money and debt, we can marshal our national wealth to make us all richer, eliminate unemployment and “look after our own.” We can make money work for us – the US. This book's account shows how MMT can become a new American political and economic orthodoxy, replacing the dominant conservative framework forever. It is essential reading for all progressives.Trade Review“Neoliberal economics does not have the answers to dealing with multi-generational collective action problems but MMT holds many nuggets of wisdom … Perhaps the most important contribution of Wray’s latest writings is to stress that MMT is not a carte blanche call for government to spend without restriction but it can nonetheless shed light on how to formulate a progressive economic agenda to face the problems of today.”The Society of Professional EconomistsTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsPreface Chapter 1. What is Money? Chapter 2. Where does Money Come From?Chapter 3: Can We Have Too Much Money ?Chapter 4. Balances BalanceChapter 5 : Life is Full of Trade-offs Chapter 6. The MMT Alternative Framework for PolicyChapter 7. MMT and Policy
£14.24
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Book Wars: The Digital Revolution in Publishing
Book SynopsisThis book tells the story of the turbulent decades when the book publishing industry collided with the great technological revolution of our time. From the surge of ebooks to the self-publishing explosion and the growing popularity of audiobooks, Book Wars provides a comprehensive and fine-grained account of technological disruption in one of our most important and successful creative industries. Like other sectors, publishing has been thrown into disarray by the digital revolution. The foundation on which this industry had been based for 500 years – the packaging and sale of words and images in the form of printed books – was called into question by a technological revolution that enabled symbolic content to be stored, manipulated and transmitted quickly and cheaply. Publishers and retailers found themselves facing a proliferation of new players who were offering new products and services and challenging some of their most deeply held principles and beliefs. The old industry was suddenly thrust into the limelight as bitter conflicts erupted between publishers and new entrants, including powerful new tech giants who saw the world in very different ways. The book wars had begun. While ebooks were at the heart of many of these conflicts, Thompson argues that the most fundamental consequences lie elsewhere. The print-on-paper book has proven to be a remarkably resilient cultural form, but the digital revolution has transformed the industry in other ways, spawning new players which now wield unprecedented power and giving rise to an array of new publishing forms. Most important of all, it has transformed the broader information and communication environment, creating new challenges and new opportunities for publishers as they seek to redefine their role in the digital age. This unrivalled account of the book publishing industry as it faces its greatest challenge since Gutenberg will be essential reading for anyone interested in books and their future.Trade ReviewOne of Tyler Cowen's 'Best Non-Fiction Books of 2021' in Marginal Revolution“An expert diagnosis of publishers and publishing, robustly illustrated with charts, graphs, tables, statistics and case studies… For anyone bewildered by the transformation of the book world, Mr. Thompson offers a pointed, thorough and business-literate survey.”The Wall Street Journal“Thompson takes the reader on a wild and exciting ride exploring the changes that have turned book publishing on its head over the last 30 years, with the development of many new technologies that readers may have come to take for granted or never considered… well worth reading to understand where the book was in the latter part of the twentieth century and where it is headed well into the twenty-first.”LSE Review of Books“Book Wars is as comprehensive, wide-ranging and deeply considered an appraisal of the book publishing world as one can imagine – and a sober consideration of what the digital age has meant to a print-centred business. This masterful work should be the foundation for all future thinking about book publishing, and much future thinking about how new technologies change – and don’t change – societies.”Michael Schudson, Columbia University “Thompson weaves together a remarkable account of how and why one of the oldest forms of media has persisted through the challenges posed by digital disruption. Extraordinary in its breadth and depth, Book Wars unpacks the complex implications of digital production and distribution and draws crucial lessons that are relevant well beyond the world of books, providing a valuable lens for examining the profound changes that internet communication has brought to nearly every sector of the economy, and especially media industries.”Amanda Lotz, Queensland University of Technology “John Thompson was there when the digital-driven changes were in full swing, and he uses his bird’s-eye view and thoroughly researched analysis to give the reader the story behind the stories. And it’s a great read too.”John Sargent, CEO of Macmillan Publishers USA“An astute deep dive into the current publishing predicament ─ how we got here and what lies ahead. For anyone who wants to understand the key challenges facing our industry today, this book is highly instructive.”Jonathan Galassi, President, Farrar Straus & Giroux “Thrilling reports from the trade-publishing front lines by a leading (as it were) war correspondent….I once (rather pompously) wrote that we need a 'contemporary history of the book'. Well, now we have it, for trade presses at least. I just didn’t expect it to be so interesting.”Times Higher Education“magisterial”The Independent“insightful and intelligent”Publisher’s Weekly “excellent… Every skirmish, every battle, every standoff is covered objectively with supporting data and entertainingly with the case studies I would have chosen.”Richard Charkin, Publishing Perspectives“An important book for anyone interested in publishing.”The Toronto Star“John B. Thompson’s Book Wars: The Digital Revolution in Publishing is certain to become this year’s must-read for anyone serious about the publishing industry.”Thad McIlroy, The Future of Publishing “an extremely authoritative account of the revolution which at one time looked like it was going to destroy the fusty old world of book publishing, but has actually ended up reinvigorating it in ways that no one predicted… for anybody wanting to get into publishing this should be compulsory reading. If you are about to go for a job interview anywhere in the industry, read this book first!”Authors Electric“Exceptionally well written, organized and presented... Book Wars: The Digital Revolution in Publishing is an extraordinary study and one that is especially and unreservedly recommended for anyone with an interest in how and why the publishing industry works as it does today.”Midwest Book Review “If you’re a serious professional author like me, this book is a must-read because it gives historical perspective. Younger and less experienced writers often lack historical perspective and there aren’t many books on the history of the publishing industry, so Thompson’s book is required reading.”M. L. Ron, Indie Author Confidential Vol. 5 “Thompson’s work is authoritative and will be of tremendous value to future readers and researchers in understanding how a 500-year-old culture of print was able to absorb and adapt. I’m aware of no other title that provides such a useful account of how publishing professionals have fought to ensure stabilization and reliable delivery of content.”The Scholarly Kitchen “magisterial… Thompson has provided an invaluable reference and resource for researchers into the complex and rapidly changing field of book publishing. Elegantly written, thoroughly researched, and remarkably comprehensive, Book Wars tells a fascinating story of how publishers large and small are adapting to the transformational effects of the digital revolution.”Publishing Research Quarterly “Thompson’s Book Wars has been the book-about-book-publishing event of 2021…no one else has Thompson’s ability to marshal the facts into comprehensive and illuminating accounts of publishing in all its splendor.”Publishers Weekly“Nobody arrives better equipped than Thompson to map how the publishing ecosystem has persisted and morphed in the digital environment… it's invaluable to have such thorough documentation of the digital publishing multiverse.”The Los Angeles Review of Books“Thompson sets out to detail the recent history of the digital revolution of books and succeeds in not only providing such a history, but also showing a clear warning sign of how the digital revolution impacts every industry and individual differently… fascinating.”Real Change“fascinating and salutary”The Critic“Thompson is an eloquent and lucid writer who has a real talent for telescoping smoothly from individual cases to a bird's-eye view of the industry of trade publishing… I do not imagine there are many other scholars working today who could provide such a magisterial account of the past two decades of the digital revolution in Anglo-American trade book publishing.”Robert Brown, Journal of Scholarly Publishing“This is a deeply informative book that can be read cover to cover and then put on a nearby shelf as a reference, not only to the grand themes of the digital revolution in books, but to a plethora of companies and organizations that have contributed to every aspect of that revolution, from Smashwords to Booksmart to Blurb to Unbound to Inkshares to so many more.”Alex Holzman, Journal of Scholarly Publishing“Book Wars brings depth and empirical richness to its account of the rapidly changing publishing industry, while contributing to theoretical and conceptual debates about digital platforms and culture industries.”International Journal of Communication“A great book… This is a comprehensive and thoroughly convincing monograph on the digital revolution in publishing. There is just no way round this book, for publishing studies scholars (and students) as well as for book business professionals interested in the inner workings of the digital sector of their industry.”Logos 'a brilliant and singular work'Escola de Llibreria ‘Book Wars presents a comprehensive and compelling narrative of new forms of book production, publication, and dissemination. Anyone considering the current and historical states of Anglo-American trade publishing would benefit from reading this impressive piece of scholarship.’Information & Culture ‘Literary scholars, professionals with a vested interest in books’ value, stand to benefit enormously from Thompson’s account… Book Wars shows that understanding the major forces shaping literary production and circulation requires methods appropriate to resolutely non-textual phenomena. Our disciplinary habitus may not be a reliable guide to the hidden continents of literary media. Thompson’s map of the changing publishing field points to different lines of inquiry for contemporary literary studies—different objects, different questions—than the ones we have so far taken up.’Contemporary Literature ‘Book Wars provides an expansive look at the state of publishing today, and will find readers across a wealth of disciplines and approaches… it will prompt and inform ongoing discussions about the book industry and publishing – and ultimately, help us understand the value of what we still call “the book” in our heavily digitized and media-filled lives.’Zeitschrift für Anglistik und Amerikanistik“Thompson has a long view of publishing, one that isn’t mired in nostalgia. He isn’t dismissive or jaded about the digital revolution, which is exactly the right attitude for any publisher hoping to navigate its turbulent future."The AuthorTable of ContentsPreface Introduction 1 The Faltering Rise of the Ebook 2 Reinventing the Book 3 The Backlist Wars 4 Google Trouble 5 Amazon's Ascent 6 Struggles for Visibility 7 The Self-publishing Explosion 8 Crowdfunding Books 9 Bookflix 10 The New Orality 11 Storytelling in Social Media 12 Old Media, New Media Conclusion: Worlds in Flux Appendix 1: Sales data from a large US trade publisher Appendix 2: Note on Research Methods Index
£17.09
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Institutional Economics
Book SynopsisInstitutions are the controlling force at the center of any economy. They organize and control all economic activity from markets to producers, consumers to governments, and more. Institutions determine how fundamental economic questions such as, what, how, and for whom, are answered. Thus, scientific analysis of economic activity requires a deep and systematic understanding of institutions. This much-needed text provides students with a comprehensive introduction to the increasingly influential field of Institutional economics. Across its ten chapters, it unpacks the history, theory, applications, policies, and methods of Institutional economics, carefully blending theoretical, conceptual and empirical elements that together illuminate the complexity of the modern economy. Topics covered include production, consumption, class and distribution, development, value theory, and specific institutions including the corporation, property, labor, and government. Each chapter concludes with selected questions or issues posed as a basis for class discussion and further research. Written in a lively and accessible style for students new to the topic, this book is set to become the go-to resource for classes on institutional economics across the world.
£17.99
John Wiley and Sons Ltd The Trade Weapon: How Weaponizing Trade Threatens
Book SynopsisPrompted by geostrategic rivalry and the war in Ukraine, COVID-19 and the climate transition, trade policy is increasingly being weaponized. This trend towards protectionist capture and retaliation is self-sabotaging and bad for growth. But there is another way. In this hard-hitting book, Ken Heydon offers alternatives to the trade weapon: the need for diplomatic carrots to accompany the sanctions stick; for resilience in supply chains rather than self-sufficiency through ill-advised reshoring and friend-shoring; for multilateral WTO remedies to rule breaking rather than unilateral penalties in the name of national sovereignty; and for direct action on environment and public health goals rather than the blunt tool of trade restriction. But, to restrain the damaging subordination of trade policy to other ends, governments must address the discontents of trade and do better at helping losers, adjusting to technological change and making the case for open markets. At stake are three decades of income gains from globalization and the ability to deal effectively with the climate transition and the next pandemic.Trade Review"Will we reclaim the benefits of liberal trade or surrender to the tidal pull of nationalism? In this timely book, Ken Heydon rejects the false premise of economic rivalry and presents in stark detail the mounting costs of deploying the trade weapon."Marc Froese, Burman University"The Trade Weapon forcefully argues against the increasing use of trade policy as a tool of first choice. This accessible and topical book will be important reading for policy makers, businesses and anyone interested in the future of trade."Peter A.G. van Bergeijk, Erasmus University "Left unanswered, trade warriors will impoverish the world, promote inequality and end climate cooperation. Heydon’s powerful and authoritative response challenges these destructive forces embraced by the United States, China and Europe."Gary Clyde Hufbauer, Peterson Institute for International Economics"Trade's vital contribution to global growth and development is at serious risk from the weaponization of trade policy. This well-crafted and thorough book presents a compelling case for liberal internationalism which deserves to be heard and acted upon."Patrick Messerlin, Sciences Po, Paris"a brave and necessary book"Martin Wolf, Financial TimesTable of ContentsList of Abbreviations List of Tables, Figure and Boxes Acknowledgements Preface Introduction: Free Trade: Winners and Losers 1. Sanctioning Aggression 2. Arming the Global Value Chain 3. Trade Self-Defence 4. Battling for the Greater Good 5. Arms Control: Restraining the Use of the Trade Weapon References Notes
£15.19
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Richer and More Equal
Book Synopsis
£23.75
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Marketing
Book SynopsisMarketing involves a wide range of professions, activities and tools and it plays an increasingly important role in our lives. But what exactly is marketing and how did it come to assume such importance? Who are the marketing professionals, what exactly do they do and what influence do they have in our economy and society? Over the last forty years, sociologists have studied marketing and analysed its practices, techniques and consequences, producing a formidable body of knowledge about the nature of marketing and its impact. This book provides a concise account of these contributions and an introduction to the most important sociological concepts for understanding marketing such as consumption, the market, the organization and culture. Mellet presents marketing not just as a set of techniques but as a pervasive social activity performed by different actors in specific contexts according to particular rules and views. He unpacks the activity of marketing, showing who marketers are, how they think, what they do and how they shape and construct not only markets but also the world we live in. Written in a clear and accessible style, this book is the perfect introduction to marketing from a sociological perspective and it will be used on courses on marketing and the sociology of culture.
£15.19
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Price Setting
Book SynopsisThe prices of some products fluctuate dramatically, while others remain more constant. What accounts for these extreme differences? Renowned economist Truman F. Bewley investigates and elucidates this puzzling problem. Its crux, he argues, is that differentiated product prices are usually stable, whereas the prices of undifferentiated products for which buyers can easily find comparable substitutes are often volatile. Although product differentiation gives producers market power, this power alone does not guarantee price stability. There are nearly undifferentiated products whose producers have market power yet for which prices are unstable. Weakness of product differentiation makes it so advantageous for producers to compete on price that they do so and forego the benefits and stability of price collusion. Producers of truly differentiated goods prefer to compete on product performance rather than price and find that reducing prices during recessions does little to increase demand. Based on hundreds of interviews with businesspeople responsible for setting prices, Bewley's book is an unusual and groundbreaking work, with findings vital for economists, students, and policymakers.
£28.50
Polity Press A Brief History of the Economy
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Polity Press Making Capital Democratic A Reconstruction of Sta
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£19.00
BPP Learning Media ACCA Strategic Business Reporting
Book SynopsisSuitable for exams until December 2019
£33.75
BPP Learning Media FIA Management Information MA1 Passcards
Book SynopsisSuitable for exams until August 2019
£999.99
BPP Learning Media ACCA Taxation FA2018
Book SynopsisSuitable for exams from April 2019 to March 2020
£26.25
BPP Learning Media ACCA Advanced Taxation FA2018
Book SynopsisSuitable for exams from April 2019 to March 2020
£26.25
BPP Learning Media ACCA Advanced Taxation FA2018
Book SynopsisSuitable for exams from April 2019 to March 2020
£15.00