Economic theory and philosophy Books
Verso Books Economics and the Left: Interviews with
Book SynopsisEconomics and the Left presents interviews with 24 leading progressive economists, whose life work has been dedicated to both interpreting the world and changing it for the better. They all deploy the technical tools of their trade-the "dismal science"-in various ways. Much more importantly, they are all people dedicated to the principles of egalitarianism, democracy and ecological sanity. The result is a combustible brew of ideas, commitments and reflections on major historical events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting global economic recession.Interviewed are: Michael Ash, Nelson Henrique Barbosa Filho, James K. Boyce, Ha-Joon Chang, Jane D'Arista, Diane Elson, Gerald Epstein, Nancy Folbre, James K. Galbraith, Teresa Ghilarducci, Jayati Ghosh, Ilene Grabel, Costas Lapavitsas, Zhongjin Li, William Milberg, Léonce Ndikumana, Ozlem Onaran, Robert Pollin, Malcolm Sawyer, Juliet Schor, Anwar Shaikh, William Spriggs, Fiona Tregenna, Thomas WeisskopfTrade ReviewPraise for Chomsky and Pollin: Climate Crisis and the Green New Deal, Verso, 2020:This book is a survival manual for civilization. I want everyone-yes, every person on the planet-to learn its message and to face the challenge it poses: 'What am I doing to help bring about a global Green New Deal in the early years of this decade?' For Americans, the first steps are clear: consign all climate deniers to permanent political oblivion and force all other policymakers to match fine words with deeds-i.e. commit to the Pollin-Chomsky global program for climate stabilization, a massive expansion of good jobs, and just transition. -- Daniel Ellsberg, author of The Doomsday MachinePraise for Chomsky and Pollin: Climate Crisis and the Green New Deal, Verso, 2020:The project that is the Green New Deal is enriched by the insights of two great minds: those of Noam Chomsky and Robert Pollin. Both understand that the GND will fail if it does not protect the jobs and livelihoods of the working class. They explain how a transformation needed to restore the ecosystem can, and will transform the organizations and lives of working people worldwide-for the better. -- Ann Pettifor, author of The Case for The Green New DealPraise for Chomsky and Pollin: Climate Crisis and the Green New Deal, Verso, 2020:Chomsky and Pollin argue it is possible to tackle climate collapse over the next 30 years. A capitalist system that fails to respond does not deserve to survive. * Irish Times *Praise for Chomsky and Pollin: Climate Crisis and the Green New Deal, Verso, 2020:Emphasizes the crisis our planet faces but also says 'there is a solution at hand.' * Irish Examiner *This fascinating collection of interviews with 24 leading progressive economists is profoundly entertaining, revealing, more directly than in their published work, how they came to believe what they believe. The lively interviews convey the infectious excitement of doing research on substantive questions of great social importance and a deep commitment to bringing about equitable and sustainable progress in a mixed economy. Each interviewee offers rare insights into their intellectual biographies and motivations that readers will find nowhere else. Each interview has important intellectual lessons to teach to anyone wishing to understand the world and to improve it. Unendingly gripping. -- Servaas Storm, Professor of Economics, Delft University of TechnologyAs James Galbraith argues in this book, 'economics needs two things: glasnost and perestroika.' This book offers 'glasnost' to anyone interested in the work of some of the most remarkable economists working today, economists whose work is effectively censored by the orthodoxy of the profession. The women economists interviewed- including the remarkable Jane D'Arista - are testament to the need to restructure economics so that women's genius can finally be recognised and celebrated. -- Ann Pettifor, author of The Case for the Green New DealProgressive economists, long voices in the wilderness, have had new influence lately, because the reality they have long described has become demonstrably evident, even to the orthodox. For an introduction to these prophetic voices, you can do no better than to read Economics and the Left: Interviews with Progressive Economics. -- Robert Kuttner, co-editor, The American ProspectThis is a wonderful collection of interviews with a wide variety of inspiring progressive economists who do not only try to understand the world, but also to change it. I learned a lot from it, even about the economists I thought I knew quite well. Reading this book is an enriching and uplifting adventure! -- Irene van Staveren, Professor of Pluralist Development Economics, Erasmus UniversityThis collection of engaging, spirited interviews with economists who have put rigorous economic analysis to work for the common good belongs in the hands of every aspiring economics student. Their accounts of the winding paths that led them to economics are unsparingly honest and contain little-known details that illuminate how their early years influenced their later interests. These economists reject the mainstream, neoclassical framework but embrace economic modes of thinking inspired by a large number of writers- Marx among them - and the tools of rigorous economic analysis including statistics and econometrics. These are used to analyze how class and power, and for some the legacies of slavery and patriarchy, structure labor, commodity and financial markets and market outcomes - persistent wage disparities, unequal burdens of care, food and housing insecurity, environmental degradation, financial instability, and wealth inequality. Intellectually rigorous and morally passionate, their analyses lead to solutions that reside in collective action that respects individual rights, in regulation of markets, and - as the Covid-19 pandemic made clear - in the role of the state in the planning, administration, and allocation of key resources. -- Eileen Appelbaum, Co-director, Center for Economic and Policy AnalysisEconomics and the Left opens a unique window to the hearts and minds of 24 progressive economists -men and women- marked by an extraordinary combination of, on the one hand, brilliance in their academic contributions and of, on the other hand, a passionate commitment to apply their talents -through policy making and advising- to make a better, more equal and sustainable world. This work will be highly enjoyable reading by any economic practitioner, academic or student undergrad and graduate interested in what is -and what is not- the Left in Economics and also by anyone with avid curiosity on how the world economy works and how we can overcome its problems and challenges. -- Juan Carlos Moreno-Brid, Professor of Economics, National Autonomous University of Mexico
£23.75
The University of Chicago Press Capitalism and Freedom
Book SynopsisOne of TIME magazine's All-TIME 100 Best Nonfiction Books One of Times Literary Supplement's Hundred Most Influential Books Since the War One of National Review's 100 Best Nonfiction Books of the Century One of Intercollegiate Studies Institute's 50 Best Books of the 20th Century How can we benefit from the promise of government while avoiding the threat it poses to individual freedom? In this classic book, Milton Friedman provides the definitive statement of an immensely influential economic philosophy--one in which competitive capitalism serves as both a device for achieving economic freedom and a necessary condition for political freedom. First published in 1962, Friedman's Capitalism and Freedom is one of the most significant works of economic theory ever written. Enduring in its eminence and esteem, it has sold nearly a million copies in English, has been translated into eighteen languages, and continues to inform economic thinking and policymaking around the world. This Trade Review"In Capitalism and Freedom, published in 1962, Friedman makes his most important contribution to his profession: the argument that the best medicine for curing a recession and stabilizing economies is for a nation's central bank (the Federal Reserve for the U.S.) to be slowly but constantly increasing the amount banks are allowed to lend and therefore increasing the supply of money--but only in brief."-- "TIME Magazine, All-TIME 100 Best Nonfiction Books"Table of ContentsForeword by Binyamin Appelbaum Preface, 2002 Preface, 1982 Preface, 1962 Introduction I. The Relation between Economic Freedom and Political Freedom II. The Role of Government in a Free Society III. The Control of Money IV. International Financial and Trade Arrangements V. Fiscal Policy VI. The Role of Government in Education VII. Capitalism and Discrimination VIII. Monopoly and the Social Responsibility of Business and Labor IX. Occupational Licensure X. The Distribution of Income XI. Social Welfare Measures XII. The Alleviation of Poverty XIII. Conclusion Index
£17.10
Oxford University Press Theory of the Leisure Class
Book Synopsis''Conspicuous consumption of valuable goods is a means of reputability to the gentleman of leisure.''In The Theory of the Leisure Class Thorstein Veblen sets out ''to discuss the place and value of the leisure class as an economic factor in modern life''. In so doing he produced a landmark study of affluent American society that exposes, with brilliant ruthlessness, the habits of production and waste that link invidious business tactics and barbaric social behaviour. Veblen''s analysis of the evolutionary process sees greed as the overriding motive in the modern economy; with an impartial gaze he examines the human cost paid when social institutions exploit the consumption of unessential goods for the sake of personal profit. Fashion, beauty, animals, sports, the home, the clergy, scholars - all are assessed for their true usefulness and found wanting. The targets of Veblen''s coruscating satire are as evident today as they were a century ago, and his book still has the power to shock Table of ContentsIntroductory ; Pecuniary Emulation ; Conspicuous Leisure ; Conspicuous Consumption ; The Pecuniary Standard of Living ; Pecuniary Canons of Taste ; Dress as an Expression of the Pecuniary Culture ; Industrial Exemption and Conservatism ; The Conservation of Archaic Traits ; Modern Survivals of Prowess ; The Belief in Luck ; Devout Observances ; Survivals of the Non-Invidious Interest ; The Higher Learning as an Expression of the Pecuniary Culture
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Adam Smith
Book Synopsis''A superb book'' Financial Times, Books of the YearAdam Smith is now widely regarded as ''the father of modern economics'' and the most influential economist who ever lived. But what he really thought, and what the implications of his ideas are, remain fiercely contested. Was he an eloquent advocate of capitalism and the freedom of the individual? Or a prime mover of ''market fundamentalism'' and an apologist for inequality and human selfishness? Or something else entirely? Jesse Norman''s brilliantly conceived ook gives us not just Smith''s economics, but his vastly wider intellectual project. Against the turbulent backdrop of Enlightenment Scotland, it lays out a succinct and highly engaging account of Smith''s life and times, reviews his work as a whole and traces his influence over the past two centuries.But this book is not only a biography. It dispels the myths and debunks the caricatures that have grown up around Adam Smith. It expTrade ReviewThis splendid book not only presents an excellent introduction to the life and ideas of Adam Smith, but also explains why - and how - Smith's insights can help us solve some of the most difficult social and economic problems of the contemporary world. Smith loved lucidity and relevance, and I think he would have been very happy with Norman's book. -- Amartya SenMasterly ... amid the superficiality and hysterics of modern British politics, an admirably thoughtful brain is lurking -- Edward Lucas * The Times *An important work of revisionist biography with a direct and important impact on the intellectual underpinnings of liberal free-market thought -- Oliver Letwin * Telegraph *Superb ... Norman succeeds in demonstrating the coherence and subtlety of Adam Smith's thought -- Martin Wolf * Financial Times (Books of the Year) *A remarkable and intensely readable book ... a rejoinder to those who fear that the intellectual has disappeared from politics -- John Kay * Financial Times *This book is well-written, well-argued and intensely thought-provoking, and it will rightly raise Smith's posthumous reputation -- Simon Heffer * Spectator *
£11.69
The University of Chicago Press Bettering Humanomics A New and Old Approach to
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewDeirdre Nansen McCloskey latest meticulous work examines how economics can become a more "human" science"Can we have economic thought that focuses on people and tries to understand rather than merely observe? Rejecting contemporary trends, McCloskey paves the way to an economics dedicated to the betterment of human lives." * The Bookseller *“There is no doubting the extraordinary breadth and depth of [McCloskey’s] knowledge... A critique by someone who knows what she’s talking about.” * The Enlightened Economist *“This book presents a series of arguments for improving academic enquiry through the lens of 'humanomics.' For economists, or other academics, who haven’t come across humanomics before, it is in essence a combination of the rigorous tools of economics with more human elements such as the critical perspectives that are often found in the humanities. Pioneers of this approach include 'the father of economics,' Adam Smith, Nobel prizewinner Vernon Smith and experimental economist Bart Wilson. . . McCloskey presents compelling arguments that economic agents are not merely attempting to maximise their utility, but are influenced by other factors such as the power of words.” * Times Higher Education *Best Summer Books of 2021 "What economics needs to fulfil its unparalleled potential as the premier science of human progress, [McCloskey] insists, is the rediscovery of its origins as the discipline that successfully marries the methods of the sciences and the humanities. In Bettering Humanomics, a sparkling cameo of a book, she offers a summary of this, her life-long project. The result is a richly allusive account of what such a combination — 'humanomics', as she calls it — looks like, and why it offers a better guide to understanding where prosperity ultimately comes from and what policymakers can do to help it on its way." * Financial Times *“This new book quite seriously advances the continuing conversation in humanomics. It discovers Adam Smith and resumes a path that McCloskey has so magnificently helped to reinvigorate in the last half century.” -- Vernon Smith, Chapman University and 2002 Nobel Laureate in Economics“How is economic science going to progress? By embracing ethics, the humanities, and language as part of the tool kit alongside mathematics—and recognizing that economists should never try to be social engineers because they are part of the societies they study. McCloskey makes a compelling case for economics for humans—and offers some hope that the discipline is tilting in that direction.” -- Diane Coyle, University of Cambridge"Provocative, bold, ironic, erudite, and above all, well-written." * Metascience *Table of ContentsPreface Part I. The Proposal Chapter 1. Humanomics and Liberty Promise Better Economic Science Chapter 2. Adam Smith Practiced Humanomics, and So Should We Chapter 3. Economic History Illustrates the Problems with Nonhumanomics Chapter 4. An Economic Science Needs the Humanities Chapter 5. It’s Merely a Matter of Common Sense and Intellectual Free Trade Chapter 6. After All, Sweet Talk Rules a Free Economy Chapter 7. Therefore We Should Walk on Both Feet, Like Ludwig Lachmann Chapter 8. That Is, Economics Needs Theories of Human Minds beyond Behaviorism Part II. The Killer App Chapter 9. The Killer App of Humanomics Is the Evidence That the Great Enrichment Came from Ethics and Rhetoric Chapter 10. The Dignity of Liberalism Did It Chapter 11. Ideas, Not Incentives, Underlie It Chapter 12. Even as to Time and Location Chapter 13. The Word’s the Thing Part III. The Doubts Chapter 14. Doubts by Analytic Philosophers about the Killer App Are Not Persuasive Chapter 15. Nor by Sociologists or Political Philosophers Chapter 16. Nor Even by Economic Historians Notes Works Cited Index
£16.00
Cambridge University Press The Economics of Economists
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£24.69
Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc Everyday Economics Made Easy: A Quick Review of
Book SynopsisThis easy-to-understand and fully illustrated handbook teaches essential economic concepts so you can confidently apply economic reasoning in daily situations and discussions. Economics may seem inaccessible and complicated, but in reality, we live in an economy all the time and use economic principles every day. Economic insight and knowledge can easily and quickly solve a curiosity or problem, avoid a minor catastrophe, or even help provide support for your own economic hunch or theory. With Everyday Economics Made Easy, economics comes down from the ivory tower and into the real world. You’ll review the most important basic economic concepts, history, debates, areas, and ways of thinking about economic issues—all while helping you apply these ideas in your everyday life. This book will introduce you to: The tools and theoretical approaches economists use The rich history of economic thought and its continued relevance today The contributions of notable economists The areas of microeconomic and macroeconomic analysis Complete with colorful graphics, intriguing sidebars, and easy-to-follow examples, Everyday Economics Made Easy is a calm and patient tutor to help you appreciate the how and why of economic thinking and analysis, its importance, and its application to common economic dilemmas. Build your skills as an economist with confidence in no time at all! Get a quick review of everything you forgot you knew with the Everyday Learning series from Wellfleet Press. Need a refresher course in topics like grammar and philosophy? Then let these handy reference books be your sidekicks on your journey to higher learning. You’ll learn about timeless global topics, as well as the thought leaders responsible for some of the greatest contributions in the worlds of science, art, and more. Packed with useful information, these portable books are perfect for commuters who want to jump-start their day with useful and fun facts. With the Everyday Learning series, you’ll be an expert in any field in no time. Other titles in this series include: Everyday Economics Made Easy, Everyday Grammar Made Easy, Everyday Mathematics Made Easy, Everyday Philosophy Made Easy, and Everyday Spanish Made Easy. Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION PART I: IN THE BEGINNING CHAPTER 1: A BRIEF HISTORY OF ECONOMIC THOUGHT CHAPTER 2: ECONOMIC SYSTEMS PART II: UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS CHAPTER 3: BASIC ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES CHAPTER 4: THE PRODUCTION POSSIBILITIES CURVE PART III: THE ECONOMIC DYNAMIC DUO: MICROECONOMICS AND MACROECONOMICS CHAPTER 5: DEMAND CHAPTER 6: SUPPLY CHAPTER 7: CONSUMER THEORY CHAPTER 8: MACROECONOMICS CHAPTER 9: MONEY, INFLATION, RECESSION, AND DEPRESSION CHAPTER 10: ECONOMIC POLICY CHAPTER 11: THE ECONOMY’S IMPACT ON SOCIETY CONCLUSION GLOSSARY REFERENCES ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR INDEX
£13.49
Quercus Publishing 50 Economics Ideas You Really Need to Know
Book SynopsisWhat exactly is a credit crunch? Why do footballers earn so much more than the rest of us? Which country is likely to be the world's leading economy in 10 years' time? Daily Telegraph economics editor Edmund Conway introduces and explains the central ideas of economics in a series of fifty essays. Beginning with an exploration of the basic theories, such as Adam Smith's 'invisible hand', and concluding with the latest research into the links between wealth and happiness, he sheds light on all the essential topics needed to understand booms and busts, bulls and bears, and the way the world really works.Table of ContentsIntroduction. The invisible hand. Supply and demand. The Malthusian trap. Opportunity cost. Incentives. Division of labour. Comparative advantage. Capitalism. Keynesianism. Monetarism. Communism. Individualism. Supply-side economics. The marginal revolution. Money. Micro and macro. Gross domestic product. Central banks and interest rates. Inflation. Debt and deflation. Taxes. Unemployment. Currencies and exchange rates. Balance of payments. Trust and the law. Energy and oil. Bond markets. Banks. Stocks and shares. Risky business. Boom and bust. Pension and the welfare state. Money markets. Blowing bubbles. Credit crunches. Creative destruction. Home-owning and house prices. Government deficits. Inequality. Globalization. Multilateralism. Protectionism. Technological revolution. Development economics. Environmental economics. Behavioural economics. Game theory. Criminomics. Happynomics. 21st-century economics. Glossary. Index.
£12.34
Verso Books The Masters Tools
Book SynopsisWhy is democracy so broken and how might it be fixed? In The Master's Tools, award-winning author Michael A. McCarthy argues the answer can be found in the flows of credit and investment bound up with finance capital.Today, finance guides and constrains our politics, but there is no reason why this must be so. In this groundbreaking work, McCarthy develops a political and social theory of institutional transformation rooted in the interconnectedness of finance and democracy.Inspired by ancient Athens, where small groups chosen by lottery were used to ensure democratic participation, he shows how democracy and working-class power can be strengthened by introducing new forms of financial governance, focusing on the inclusion of historically excluded groups.His proposals for democratic financial institutions point the way to imbuing finance with a socio-environmental purpose and the funding of a just green transition, social housing, and other necessary public goods. And these financial institutions might be the first step toward a whole new kind of economy.
£19.80
Springer International Publishing AG Austerity vs Stimulus: The Political Future of
Book SynopsisThis timely book debates the economic and political logic of the austerity policies that have been implemented in the UK and in the Eurozone since 2010 and asks whether there is any alternative for these countries in the years ahead. The work reconsiders the austerity versus stimulus debate through the voices of those who proposed the successful idea of expansionary austerity and those who opposed it. The editors have brought together a collection of articles written by some of the most notable figures in the discipline, including the likes of Alberto Alesina, Ken Rogoff, Tim Besley, David Graeber, Vince Cable, and Paul Krugman. The book also features the debate between Niall Ferguson and Robert Skidelsky. These leading thinkers unveil a world where economists are far from agreeing on economic policy, and where politics often dominates the discussion. The question of whether the British government should have opted for austerity runs through the book, as well as how sustained economic recovery should be encouraged in the future. Scholars, students and members of the general public with an interest in the financial crisis and its lingering aftermath will find this work invaluable.Table of ContentsIntroduction. -1. The Politics of the Debate.- 2. The Two Sides of the Debate.- 3. Contemporary Arguments for Austerity.- 4. Contemporary Arguments for Stimulus.- 5. Confidence: The Object of the Debate.- 6. Austerity vs Stimulus in the UK.- 7. What's Next.
£22.79
Double 9 Booksllp Essays On Some Unsettled Questions Of Political
Book SynopsisEssays on Some Unsettled Questions of Political Economy is a collection of essays written by the famous British philosopher and economist, John Stuart Mill. In the first essay, Mill examines the concept of free trade and argues that it benefits both trading nations. The second essay explores the relationship between demand and supply and the role of consumption in promoting economic growth. The third essay debates the definitions of productive and unproductive labor, arguing that they are not clear-cut categories. The fourth essay delves into the question of why profits are necessary for a capitalist system and whether interest rates are determined by supply and demand. Finally, the fifth essay discusses the nature and scope of political economy, arguing that it should be considered a social science rather than a natural science. Overall, Essays on Some Unsettled Questions of Political Economy is an insightful book that continues to be studied and debated by economists and scholars today. Mill's ideas on free trade, consumption, labor, profits, and the nature of political economy remain relevant and influential in contemporary economic discourse.
£8.99
The University of Chicago Press The Bourgeois Virtues Ethics for an Age of
Book SynopsisFor a century and a half artists and intellectuals of Europe have scorned the bourgeoisie. Applying a tradition of "virtue ethics" to our lives in modern economies, this title affirms American capitalism without ignoring its faults and celebrates the bourgeois lives we live, without supposing that they must be lives without ethical foundations.Trade Review"Deirdre McCloskey's unfashionable, contrarian, and compelling manifesto in favor of what she calls the bourgeois virtues starts with an uncompromising 'apology' for how private property, free labor, free trade, and prudent calculation are the font of most ethical good in modern society, not a moral threat to it....She writes with wonderful ease. Her style is conversational and lively, sometimes even cheeky, so that even the toughest concepts seem palatable." - Matt Ridley, Wall Street Journal "An impressive collection of intellectual riches." - Alan Ryan, New York Review of Books"
£19.95
Penguin Books Ltd Galbraith J Affluent Society
Book SynopsisJohn Kenneth Galbraith''s international bestseller The Affluent Society is a witty, graceful and devastating attack on some of our most cherished economic myths. As relevant today as when it was first published over forty years ago, this newly updated edition of Galbraith''s classic text on the ''economics of abundance'', lays bare the hazards of individual and social complacency about economic inequality. Why worship work and productivity if many of the goods we produce are superfluous - artificial ''needs'' created by high-pressure advertising? Why begrudge expenditure on vital public works while ignoring waste and extravagance in the private sector of the economy? Classical economics was born in a harsh world of mass poverty, and has left us with a set of preconceptions ill-adapted to the realities of our own richer age. And so, too often, ''the bland lead the bland''. Our unfamiliar problems need a new approach, and the reception given to this famous book has shown the value of its fresh, lively ideas. ''A compelling challenge to conventional thought'' The New York Times ''He shows himself a truly sensitive and civilized man, whose ideas are grounded in the common culture of the two continents, and may serve as a link between them; his book is of foremost importance for them both'' The Times Literary Supplement John Kenneth Galbraith (1908-2006) was a Canadian-American economist. A Keynesian and an institutionalist, Galbraith was a leading proponent of 20th-century American liberalism and progressivism. Galbraith was the author of 30 books, including The Economics of Innocent Fraud, The Great Crash: 1929, and A History of Economics.
£10.44
Cambridge University Press Hijacked
Book SynopsisThis sweeping history of classical economics shows how the work ethic has been used both to oppress workers and to liberate them. Today''s neoliberalism offers an oppressive version of the work ethic. However, the work ethic also offers resources for reorganizing the economy on behalf of ordinary people--Trade Review'Hijacked is an important and fascinating book that tells the spellbinding story of the struggle between conservatives and progressives over the Protestant work ethic. Nobody matches Anderson's distinctive combination of historical, political, and philosophical insight.' Stephen Darwall, author of Modern Moral Philosophy: From Grotius to Kant'This critical examination of the Protestant work ethic and its evolution in social and economic theory outlines the challenges of preserving rewarding and purposeful work in liberal economies where free market capitalism has eroded both aspirations and capabilities, undermining the intrinsic dignity and meaning of work.' Richard Donkin, author of The History of Work'Most of us will spend a significant part of our lives at work. But work conditions differ radically and the working poor often face brutal and dehumanizing workplaces. In this brilliant book, Anderson uncovers the role of a skewed version of the work ethic in shaping these harsh conditions. This skewed version turned the values of industry, prudence, and frugality against workers, while leaving the predatory and idle rich off the hook. Not only does Anderson offer a subtle diagnosis of the origins of today's stigmatization and deprivation of the poor, but she offers creative ideas for reclaiming the work ethic in the service of democracy. Her superb analysis, connecting political philosophy with both history and political economy, will stimulate wide debate.' Debra Satz, coauthor of Economic Analysis, Moral Philosophy, and Public Policy'As rigorous as it is approachable, this poignant plea for worker dignity contextualizes one of today's most salient economic issues.' Publishers Weekly'If we arm ourselves with Elizabeth Anderson's superb history of the work ethic, we obtain a powerful lens with which to explore at a perfect time - during party conference season - how different visions of work form the beating heart of ideological struggle.' Morning StarTable of ContentsPreface; 1. The dual nature of the Protestant work ethic and the birth of utilitarianism; 2. Locke and the progressive work ethic; 3. How conservatives hijacked the work ethic and turned it against workers; 4. Welfare reform, famine, and the ideology of the conservative work ethic; 5. The progressive work ethic (1): Smith, Ricardo, and Ricardian socialists; 6. The progressive work ethic (2): J. S. Mill; 7. The progressive work ethic (3): Marx; 8. Social democracy as the culmination of the progressive work ethic; 9. Hijacked again: Neoliberalism as the return of the conservative work ethic; 10. Conclusion: What should the work ethic mean for us today?; Acknowledgments; Major works cited; Notes; Index.
£21.25
Oxford University Press An Essay on the Principle of Population Oxford
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Princeton University Press Financial Decisions and Markets
Book SynopsisTrade Review"John Campbell is one of the leading researchers and teachers in asset pricing. This remarkably clear and well-organized book is strong testimony to his expertise. I will use it often in my own research."—Kenneth R. French, Dartmouth College"John Campbell has given us the definitive course text on financial decision making and asset pricing. Every student and researcher in the field will want this masterful integration of decades of study on actual investor behavior and market equilibrium."—Darrell Duffie, Stanford University"John Campbell has long been a top researcher in the vibrant intersection of asset pricing and macroeconomics. This book provides an interesting and in-depth exposition of his take on the current state of this important area."—Eugene Fama, University of Chicago Booth School of Business"Written by a major contributor to the economics of financial markets, Financial Decisions and Markets is a comprehensive, insightful, and authoritative graduate-level introduction to asset pricing. This book stresses the interplay between theory, econometrics, and empirics, the hallmark of John Campbell's research. The critical analysis and problem sets stimulate readers to confront open questions at the research frontier. I plan to adopt this book in my PhD-level course."—George M. Constantinides, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
£68.00
Princeton University Press Animal Spirits How Human Psychology Drives the
Book SynopsisFrom blind faith in ever-rising housing prices to plummeting confidence in capital markets, 'animal spirits' are driving financial events worldwide. This book aims to challenge the economic wisdom that got us into this mess, and puts forward a fresh vision that can transform economics and restore prosperity.Trade ReviewRobert J. Shiller, Co-Winner of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Economics George A. Akerlof, Co-Winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Economics Winner of the 2009 Book Award, getAbstract International Winner of the 2009 Paul A. Samuelson Award for Outstanding Scholarly Writing on Lifelong Financial Security, TIAA-CREF Winner of the 2009 Finance Book of the Year, CBN (China Business News) Financial Value Ranking Shortlisted for the 2009 Book of the Year, Financial Times//Goldman Sachs Business Featured on the Financial Times (FT.com)'s Books of the Year list Listed on Bloomberg.com in a review by James Pressley as two of "our favorite financial-crisis books this year." "Akerlof and Shiller are the first to try to rework economic theory for our times. The effort itself makes their book a milestone... And their book takes their case not just to economists, but also to the general reader. It is short (176 pages of text) and easy enough for laymen to understand."--Louis Uchitelle, New York Times Book Review "There is barely a page of Animal Spirits without a fascinating fact or insight."--John Lanchester, New Yorker "Akerlof and Shiller succeed, too, in demonstrating that conventional macroeconomic analyses often fail because they omit not just readily observable facts like unemployment and institutions such as credit markets but also harder-to-document behavioral patterns that fall within the authors' notion of 'animal spirits.' Confidence plainly matters, and so does the absence of it. When the public mood swings from exuberance to anxiety, or even fear, the effect on asset prices as well as on economic activity outside the financial sector can be large."--Benjamin M. Friedman, New York Review of Books "Animal Spirits [is] ... the new must-read in Obamaworld."--Michael Grunwald, Time "[Animal Spirits] really applies to all the big areas where we need change."--Peter Orszag, Obama budget director (quoted from Time magazine article) "White House Budget Director Peter Orszag is a numbers guy, a propeller head as President Obama would say. But as David Von Drehle and I write in this week's print version of Time, Orszag has been spending his time recently reading not about spreadsheets, but about psychology. In particular, he has been reading a new book by the economists George Akerlof and Robert Shiller called Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology Drives The Economy, and Why It Matters For Global Capitalism... We are, it turns out, slaves to the Animal Spirits. They have brought us to our knees. And now they are the only things that can save us."--Michael Scherer, Time.com's Swampland "In their new book, two of the most creative and respected economic thinkers currently at work, George Akerlof and Robert Shiller, argue that the key is to recover Keynes's insight about 'animal spirits'--the attitudes and ideas that guide economic action. The orthodoxy needs to be rebuilt, and bringing these psychological factors into the core of economics is the way to do it... The connections between their thinking on the limits to conventional economics and the issues thrown up by the breakdown are plain, even if they were unable to make every link explicit. Even more than Akerlof and Shiller could have hoped, therefore, it is a fine book at exactly the right time... Animal Spirits carries its ambition lightly--but is ambitious nonetheless. Economists will see it as a kind of manifesto."--Clive Crook, Financial Times "An influential Democrat who was also one of the world's top-ten, highest-paid hedge fund managers last year thinks he knows which book is at the top of the White House reading list this spring: Animal Spirits, the powerful new blast of behavioural economics from Nobel prize-winner George Akerlof and Yale economist Robert Shiller."--Financial Times "Akerlof and Shiller remind us that emotional and intangible factors--such as confidence in institutions, illusions about the nature of money or a sense of being treated unfairly--can affect how people make decisions about borrowing, spending, saving and investing. Animal Spirits is an affectionate tribute to the man [John Maynard Keynes] whose ideas, unfashionable for the past 30 years, have resurged."--Nature "Animal Spirits is a welcome addition to our Hannitized national economic debate, in which anyone who advocates government spending risks being labeled a socialist... Animal Spirits is most compelling when the authors summon all the key behavioral patterns to explain vast, complex phenomena such as the Great Depression... Animal Spirits ... [is] aimed squarely at the general reader, and rightly so: Macroeconomics is now everybody's business--the banks are playing with our money."--Andrew Rosenblum, New York Observer "[A] lively new financial crisis book."--James Pressley, Bloomberg News "The two superstars have produced a truly innovative and bold work that attempts to show how psychological factors explain the origins of the current mess and offer clues for possible solutions. At a time when plummeting confidence is dragging down the market and the economy, the authors' focus on the psychological aspect of economics is incredibly important."--Michael Mandel, BusinessWeek "What Sigmund Freud did for the study of the mind, George Akerlof and Robert Shiller are doing for economics. Freud, healer or fake--take your pick--built a career and a field of medicine on the idea that people are driven by irrational forces. Akerlof, professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley and winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in economics, and Shiller, the Yale economist who is the eminence grise of the housing meltdown, argue that massive government market intervention programs are the only way to turn fear into enthusiasm for spending and investing--the 'animal spirits' that are an essential part of recovery... Akerlof and Shiller pick up on the idea of the emotional impetus to investment. With elegant reasoning and lovely prose, they demonstrate that we'll all be wallowing in misery unless governments around world, especially the in the G7 nations, help to return markets to optimism... Animal Spirits is a fine discussion of the last few decades of development of economic theory, especially monetary economics."--Andrew Allentuck, The Globe & Mail "[T]his book is rather more than the usual lament about the failings of economics. Its authors are two of the discipline's leading lights... Most of the time, the unrealistic assumption of rationality serves economists fairly well. They should, however, be more prepared to depart from it, especially in times like these--even if that makes behaviour more difficult to describe in elegant equations. Messrs Akerlof and Shiller have therefore done their profession a service."--The Economist "With Animal Spirits we hone in on how incentives and narratives can be created to channel the human psychological factor into collectively healthy directions, and how to be aware of the fictions we tell ourselves about how we wish the world and greed and financial security worked. [Animal Spirits] sheds light on complex issues and leaves readers with a better grasp of undercurrents and--most importantly--a rediscovered belief in principles of common sense and caution."--Daily Kos "The new book from George Akerlof and Robert Shiller, Animal Spirits, has been getting a lot of press of late, and quite rightly: it's really good. It's not only very readable; it also offers a compelling vision of a very different type of macroeconomics--one where behavioral considerations are front and center, rather than simply providing what Clive Crook calls 'ad hoc modifications' to the standard, ridiculously oversimplified and unrealistic, model... [I]f you read only one book on this subject, make it Animal Spirits."--Felix Salmon, Portfolio.com "As George Akerlof and Robert Shiller show in a new book Animal Spirits, this is no freak storm. It may mark the long-awaited encounter between psychology and economics... Akerlof and Shiller's book is probably the first macroeconomic exploration of the subject that is accessible to those interested in the subject but who don't have the academic training to understand the detailed argument."--Mint "My book of the week is an easy one this time around: it's Animal Spirits, by Robert Shiller and George Akerlof... Admittedly, I'm biased as a fan of both Shiller's and Akerlof's. Believe me, however, when I say the blessedly brief Animal Spirits is a thoughtful and well-written look at how economics discarded psychology and lost its way on the trip from Adam Smith, through Keynesianism, to laissez-faire. The book puts the current crisis in a useful economic context, with consistent and practical selections from behavioral finance illuminating everything along the way... Highly recommended."--Paul Kedrosky, SeekingAlpha "Another contribution to the human-nature-ensures-economics-is-irrational school of thought. But, unlike many of the rants against people trying to make an honest profit, this is a measured examination of how the present crisis is explained in economic terms. And so it should be. George Akerlof is a Nobel prizewinner, Robert Shiller teaches at Yale and is the author of Irrational Exuberance, which should give you an idea of this one's approach. This fascinating work uses economics to explain real-life issues, such as real estate price cycles, to key policy problems, such as the relationship between inflation and employment."--Stephen Matchett, The Australian "George Akerlof and Rober Shiller's Animal Spirits is a plea to start believing our lying eyes rather than the model. Rather than try to explain away the apparent irrationality in human behaviour, Akerlof and Shiller say we need to try to understand it and shape policies that take it into account... The core message of Animal Spirits is that we should stop trying to cage the spirits and instead admit their central importance. Specifically, this means that world governments will need to intervene forcefully in the current economic crisis with both fiscal stimulus and direct measures to stimulate lending--to restore some of the confidence that the crash has sapped."--Matthew Yglesias, The National "In saluting Keynes' quip, Akerlof and Shiller argue that much of the story is in the unreliability and incompleteness of supposedly rational behavior--the micro-foundation of the free-market model. They contend that modern economics, even self-described Keynesian economics, has given short shrift to this core behavioral insight... Their best chapter is on the limited capacity of central banks to prevent or cure calamities."--Robert Kuttner, The American Prospect "Akerlof and Shiller take psychological research seriously, and it's refreshing to see that they're not trying to reinvent the wheel... The book is an interesting read and would probably be very useful for an undergrad class that needs an introduction to behavioral economics. A & S do a nice job of moving between the theoretical and the practical, the empirical and the implied. The writing is accessible and the topic is more than relevant to our current economic situation."--Orgtheory.net "Animal Spirits is succinct, clear and lively."--Brad Willis, Edmonton Journal "In an intriguing new book, Animal Spirits, US economists George Akerlof and Robert Shiller argue that psychology plays a far bigger role in determining economic outcomes than economists realize--and that, broadly speaking, people get what they expect. If we think good times are ahead, we act confidently in a way that creates them. And if we expect a downturn ahead, we act defensively and unwittingly ensure that's what we get."--Tim Colebatch, The Age "The authors are right in pointing out the inadequacy of conventional economics in understanding, not to say addressing, today's economic woes, because they fail to take into account these animal spirits."--Wan Lixin, Shanghai Daily "[Animal Spirits] is a short, thoughtful and sometimes simplistic book that calls for a different vision of economics... Animal Spirits may well be a GPS system for a changing economic future."--Gene Rebeck, Delta Sky "Animal Spirits presents a rigorous case for the importance of 'confidence multipliers' and 'stories' in explaining recent market behaviour and of 'fairness' and 'money illusion' in preventing wages from falling in recessions to the market-clearing rate. Written in an accessible style, the book provides a very useful practical primer for policy-makers, practitioners and academics on many aspects of the current crisis. The authors also make a compelling theoretical case for macroeconomists taking more account of the role of non-economic motives and irrational responses."--Richard Bronk, The Business Economist "[T]he authors do a superb job of conveying the importance of bevaioural economics to a non-specialist audience. They increase our understanding of recent economic events and they show that animal spirits affect how governments should manage the economy."--Natalie Gold, Times Higher Education "Animal Spirits offers a road map for reversing the financial misfortunes besetting us today. Read it and learn how leaders can channel animal spirits--the powerful forces of human psychology that are afoot in the world economy today."--Money Science "[T]his very book seems to be one of the 'must-reads' in the Obama administration."--Andreas Ernst, JASSS "Ideologists are likely to dismiss this volume. However, for other readers--whether their perspectives are quantitative or qualitative--Animal Spirits may fill a troubling gap in existing investigations of the causes of booms and busts."--Thomas H. Wilkins, Investment Professional "Akerlof and Shiller's book is an interesting and thought-provoking attempt to understand how underlying human psychology drives the economy. The questions they pose and the examples they provide should be read by any economist seeking to better understand the differences between what economics predict will occur, and how people actually behave as individuals and within larger groups."--Dmitri Leybman, Midway Review "Animal Spirits, which attempts to leverage the insights of behavioral economics to reanimate the vision of John Maynard Keynes, is perfectly timed for the present moment."--Nick Schulz, Wilson Quarterly "Animal Spirits is exceptional in showing how economics can be accessible and relevant in dealing with this awesome challenge."--Irish Times "A reader would be right in thinking that Animal Spirits is an especially appealing but provocative appetizer that stimulates the interest of unorthodox and anti-orthodox economists everywhere to rewrite macroeconomics as if humans beings with their messy emotions, group dynamics, and all the rest really exist. Readers will also find Animal Spirits an invitation for society to ignore new classical economics in the interest of effective and decent economic policy."--Marcellus Andrews, Challenge "[T]he authors are ... [b]oth ... credited with a deep understanding of economic history, the history of economic thought, and today's global economic environment. That makes this book a 'must read' for anyone seeking insights into recent economic events and seeking ways of crafting government policies to prevent another similar economic downturn."--Jagadeesh Gokhale, Cato JournalTable of ContentsPreface vii Acknowledgments xiii Introduction 1 Part One: Animal Spirits Chapter One: Confidence and Its Multipliers 11 Chapter Two: Fairness 19 Chapter Three: Corruption and Bad Faith 26 Chapter Four: Money Illusion 41 Chapter Five: Stories 51 Part Two: Eight Questions and Their Answers Chapter Six: Why Do Economies Fall into Depression? 59 Chapter Seven: Why Do Central Bankers Have Power over the Economy (Insofar as They Do)? 74 Postscript to Chapter Seven: The Current Financial Crisis: What Is to Be Done? 86 Chapter Eight: Why Are There People Who Cannot Find a Job? 97 Chapter Nine: Why Is There a Trade-off between Inflation and Unemployment in the Long Run? 107 Chapter Ten: Why Is Saving for the Future So Arbitrary? 116 Chapter Eleven: Why Are Financial Prices and Corporate Investments So Volatile? 131 Chapter Twelve: Why Do Real Estate Markets Go through Cycles? 149 Chapter Thirteen: Why Is There Special Poverty among Minorities? 157 Chapter Fourteen: Conclusion 167 Notes 177 References 199 Index 219
£18.00
Verso Books Keystroke Capitalism: How Banks Create Money for
Book SynopsisContemporary capitalism produces more and more money, debt, and inequality. These three trends have a common cause: the privilege of private banks to create money by means of accounting - by the stroke of a key. Why was this privilege not addressed politically for so long - and who benefited from it? At the heart of the answer lies the realization that the power to create money has been hidden by the way we commonly think and talk about capitalism. The book traces the omission of money creation from theories of capitalism and maps its consequences. By expanding the manoeuvring space for the banks to use their privilege, the capitalist countries have financed a transformation of the economy known as financialization. As a result, the real economy and private households became a debt supplier to a monetary system whose returns accumulate at the top. It is not simply "the markets" but money itself that transfers economic benefits from the masses to a minority. Increasing inequality of income and wealth can therefore only be combated if one does not only correct distributive results of markets-redistribution-, but addresses predistribution: the modalities of money creation.Trade ReviewIn the money-creation privilege of private banks, Aaron Sahr discovers a precarious mechanism of inequality reinforcement to which the regulation of capitalist economic activity has paid far too little attention to date. -- Hanno Pahl, University of Bonn, Germany * Neue soziologische Beiträge zur Kapitalismusanalyse: Ein Einblick. In: Soziologische Revue 42 (3), S. 405–417. DOI: 10.1515/srsr-2019-0050 *Sahr has successfully identified the structures that privilege so few and put so many at a disadvantage. The way in which the author presents these issues, unravels the connections and structures, and elucidates the illegitimacy of the money-production privilege adds up to an outstanding piece of sociological scholarship. -- Stefan Freichel * Monetative Blog *The uncontrolled creation of money by private banks should interest us all, because it creates a permanent redistribution from the poor to the rich, says the highly interesting 'Keystroke Capitalism'. -- Mathias Sonne * Information (Newspaper), DK *This book an accessible synthesis of a good deal of the literature, with interesting although by no means final political ideas. -- Wolfgang StreeckAaron Sahr's book provides a highly accessible synthesis of the state of knowledge on modern money and how it affects the political economy. Readers learn about the nature of fiat money and fiat credit and their contribution the financialization of contemporary capitalism, the conflicts it generates, and the consequences for the state and public policy. -- Wolfgang StreeckWhy and how did a company with a huge cash pile in the bank - Apple Inc - set out to borrow $17 billion in 2013? How did the world's billionaire class accumulate $418 trillion US dollars - an amount five times world income - in the blink of an eye? The answers can be found in this admirably accessible book on the way the globalised, private financial system generates 'keystroke wealth' and 'keystroke capital gains' - but also its nemesis - 'keystroke debt'. A must-read for all those fretting about the likely next crisis in the evolution of financialised capitalism. -- Ann Pettifor
£14.24
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Money Greed and God 10th Anniversary Edition
Book Synopsis
£16.19
Penguin Books Ltd Licence to be Bad
Book Synopsis''It is going to change the way in which we understand many modern debates about economics, politics, and society'' Ha Joon Chang, author of 23 Things They Don''t Tell You About CapitalismOver the past fifty years, the way we value what is ''good'' and ''right'' has changed dramatically. Behaviour that to our grandparents'' generation might have seemed stupid, harmful or simply wicked now seems rational, natural, woven into the very logic of things. And, asserts Jonathan Aldred in this revelatory new book, it''s economics that''s to blame.Licence to be Bad tells the story of how a group of economics theorists changed our world, and how a handful of key ideas, from free-riding to Nudge, seeped into our decision-making and, indeed, almost all aspects of our lives. Aldred reveals the extraordinary hold of economics on our morals and values. Economics has corrupted us. But if this hidden transformation is so recent, it can be reversed. LiceTrade Review[A] fascinating assault on modern economic orthodoxy... It is a call for us all to put aside our prejudices - some of which have been invented for us, decades ago - and ask, is this what we need? Is it even what we really want? -- Tim Stanley * Daily Telegraph *In this highly enlightening and hugely entertaining book, Jonathan Aldred guides us through the badlands of modern economics, revealing its pitfalls, quicksand, and quagmires. It is going to change the way in which we understand many modern debates about economics, politics, and society. -- Ha-Joon Chang, University of Cambridge, author of 23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism and Economics: The User's GuideThis an important and timely book, the best I have recently read on the subject of 'whither economics?' -- Lord Robert SkidelskyAn entertaining, wide-ranging and often challenging argument. Aldred writes exceptionally well and there is much here to agree with ... It's impossible to do justice to the sheer range of issues tackled. -- Paul Johnson * Literary Review *Illuminating ... an unusual approach to critiquing the modern economic canon. -- Paul Collier * Times Literary Supplement *
£10.44
Oxford University Press Inc Creating and Transforming the Twentieth Century
Book SynopsisCreating and Transforming the Twentieth Century combines two of Vaclav Smil''s seminal works in a revised and expanded edition. Creating the Twentieth Century explores the period between 1867 and 1914, a time of unparalleled innovation that laid the groundwork for modern civilization. It investigates the birth of an expansive society driven by the synergy of fuels, science, and technical innovation. Key inventions from this era include dynamite, the telephone, photographic film, and the first light bulbs in the 1870s, followed by electricity-generating plants, electric motors, steam turbines, and cars in the 1880s. The period of extraordinary discovery continues into the early 20th century with the advent of airplanes, tractors, radio signals, and plastics. Smil systematically examines four fundamental classes of innovations: the formation and standardization of electric systems, the rapid adoption of internal combustion engines, the surge in chemical syntheses and material substitutions, and the dawn of the information age. This interdisciplinary account highlights the epochal consequences of these advancements, leading to high-energy societies engaged in mass production aimed at improving living standards.Transforming the Twentieth Century investigates how these technical advances shaped the decades that followed. It examines how the 20th century differed from the preceding 100 years due to unprecedented combinations of technical progress. Smil discusses the remarkable pace and ambition of 20th-century advancements, which elevated industrial production to new heights and tackled previously insurmountable challenges. He addresses the themes of electricity, engines, materials, and information techniques, and critically examines the contradictory consequences of technological progress--including liberating simplicity versus overwhelming complexity, unprecedented affluence versus economic disparities, and increased security versus new fears. This new edition contains numerous updates to the original books and features a new preface and a final chapter examining key themes in light of major 21st-century events and publications. Now in a single volume, these classic texts remain central to Smil''s acclaimed oeuvre, and their lessons are perennially fascinating.
£28.49
The University of Chicago Press Notowidigdo M Better Health Economics
Book SynopsisTrade Review“At long last, a concise but comprehensive, conversational, and accessible tour of modern health economics. Better Health Economics is chock full of insights and covers an impressive range of important topics. This is how to teach health economics!" -- Amy Finkelstein | coauthor of "We've Got You Covered: Rebooting American Health Care""An accessible, readable—and often funny!—tour through health economics. Gross and Notowidigdo are master teachers." -- Emily Oster | author of "Expecting Better: Why The Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong–And What You Really Need To Know""Gross and Notowidigdo prove that learning about the economics of health does not have to be a painful experience. Each of the chapters is an easy-to-swallow dose of insights into this complex and important part of our economy. Who knew this stuff could be fun?" -- Richard Thaler | winner of the Nobel Prize in EconomicsTable of ContentsIntroduction Part I: Demand 1. What Does Health Insurance Do? 2. Health Insurance versus Broccoli 3. Free Care Is Not Free: Who Pays for the Uninsured? 4. Moral Hazard 5. Behavioral Economics Part II: Supply 6. How Much Should Physicians Be Paid? 7. Doctors and Hospitals Respond to Financial Incentives (Just Like Everybody Else) 8. Payment Reform 9. Horizontal Mergers 10. Vertical Integration 11. Quality 12. Drugs Part III: Other Determinants of Health 13. Contagion 14. Health Gradients 15. Social Determinants of Health Conclusion Acknowledgments Notes Index
£26.60
Little, Brown Book Group TheLogic of Life by Harford Tim Author ON
Book SynopsisTruly eye-opening . . . There is almost no situation that Harford cannot dissect with his sharp economist''s tools . . . economics has never been this cool'' NEW STATESMANIf humans are so clever, why do we smoke and gamble, or take drugs, or fall in love? Is this really rational behaviour? And how come your idiot boss is so overpaid? In fact, the behaviour of even the unlikeliest of individuals - prostitutes, drug addicts, racists and revolutionaries - complies with economic logic, taking into account future costs and benefits, even if we don''t quite realise it. We are rational beings after all.Trade ReviewThe chapter "Why is Your Boss Overpaid?" is in itself worth the price of this book * Sunday TELEGRAPH *This is no minor thesis . . . If you loved [The Tipping Point and Freakonomics] you'll love this * FINANCIAL TIMES *
£11.99
Quercus Publishing 50 Capitalism Ideas You Really Need to Know
Book SynopsisIn a series of 50 accessible essays, Jonathan Portes demystifies the fundamental concepts of capitalism - from its history, core theories and key institutions to its current-day political power and social impact.From stock markets to banks, globalization to Marxism, 50 Capitalism Ideas is a complete introduction to the most the world's dominant economic system.
£9.49
Encounter Books,USA The Enduring Tension: Capitalism and the Moral
Book SynopsisWestern civilization fashioned a capitalism that created a worldwide economic cornucopia and higher standards of living than any other system, yet its legitimacy is often questioned by its beneficiaries. Boston University Emeritus Professor Angelo M. Codevilla, proclaims Donald Devine’s The Enduring Tension between Capitalism and the Moral Order, “the best answer to this question since Adam Smith’s. Like Smith, Devine shows the mutually sustaining nature of morality and economic freedom, and provides a much-needed clearing away of the confusion with which recent authors have befogged this essential relationship.” Devine begins with Karl Marx setting capitalism’s roots in feudalism and the implications of that traditionalist inheritance, finally transformed by Rousseau’s “Christian heresy,” which turned the vision of heavenly perfection into an impossibly perfect ideal for earthly society. To unravel this capitalist enigma, Devine identifies the roots of the confusion, critiques the rationalized responses, and identifies the remedy—the revival of an historical Lockean pluralism able to fuse a moral scaffolding sufficient to hold the walls and preserve the best of capitalist civilization.Trade Review"Why does history record prosperity for the mass of ordinary people only within Western civilization and in the context of free markets? Donald Devine’s exploration of the enduring tension between capitalism and the moral order is the best answer to this question since Adam Smith’s. Like Smith, Devine shows the mutually sustaining nature of morality and economic freedom, and provides a much needed clearing away of the confusion with which recent authors have befogged this essential relationship."—Angelo M. Codevilla, Professor Emeritus, Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston UniversityIn this profound and sweeping study, Donald Devine illuminates the foundations of our liberal order, takes its serious critics seriously, and answers them in their own terms—which he demonstrates are ultimately moral terms, in the deepest sense. This is an essential book for understanding the prospects of our politics.—Yuval Levin, American Enterprise InstituteToo many defenses of the market economy focus on narrow economic considerations alone. To make a deep and compelling case requires an understanding not only of economics, but of broader issues in ethics, political science, history, and philosophy. Few are qualified to do this, but Donald Devine certainly is, as The Enduring Tension demonstrates. —Edward Feser, Professor of Philosophy, Pasadena City College Donald Devine provides an invaluable guide to the sometimes solid, sometimes dreamy ideas about economic and social life we will have to contend with if we want to build and sustain a humane world. Drawing from history, political philosophy, theology, and a practitioner’s wisdom, he concludes that there can be no vibrant capitalism without a robust moral tradition. We must take his insights to heart and work to fortify that tradition.—Joshua Mitchell, Professor of Political Theory, Georgetown UniversityIn an era of new challenges, Donald Devine reveals the historical roots and the moral necessity of pluralism and capitalism. The Enduring Tension is an essential book for a dark time.—Samuel Goldman, Associate Professor of Political Science, George Washington University The Enduring Tension isn’t just a book that makes the moral case for capitalism—it’s a whole library in one volume. Donald Devine channels a lifetime of experience and scholarship into this indispensable work, where his erudition is matched only by his passion and eloquence.—Daniel McCarthy, Editor, Modern AgeWhen capitalism’s legitimacy faces an onslaught of naysaying, Donald Devine does the necessary work of reconciling human freedom, capitalism, and morality. Edmund Burke counseled us to stand on the shoulders of giants, and Devine is one of those sagacious giants.—Rachel Bovard, Policy Director, Conservative Partnership Institute
£17.24
Icon Books Capitalism: A Graphic Guide
Book SynopsisCapitalism shapes every aspect of our world, beyond just our economic structures; it moulds our values and influences the way we write laws, wage wars and even conduct personal relationships. From its beginnings to the present day, Capitalism: A Graphic Guide tells the story of capitalism's remarkable and often ruthless rise, evolving through strife and struggle as much as innovation and enterprise. This non-fiction graphic novel explores the key developments that have shaped our modern world, from early banking to the Opium Wars, financial crashes, the rise of service economies and concerns about sustainability. It also introduces us to the leading proponents and critics of capitalism, providing both a theoretical and practical understanding of this fascinating subject.
£12.59
Profile Books Ltd The Classical School: The Turbulent Birth of
Book Synopsis'Williams has chosen an engaging cast of characters; his collection is full of well-lived lives and grisly endings ... Consume it as a whole or dip in and out. Either way, he leaves you a lot wiser.' - Philip Aldrick, Times Opinions vary about who really counts as a classical economist: Marx thought it was everyone up to Ricardo. Keynes thought it was everyone up to Keynes. But there's a general agreement about who belongs to the heroic early phase of the discipline. Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Malthus, Mill, Marx: scarcely a day goes by without their names being publicly invoked to celebrate or criticise the state of the world or the actions of governments. Few of us, though, have read their works. Fewer still realise that the economies that many of them were analysing were quite unlike our modern one, or the extent to which they were indebted to one another. So join the Economist's Callum Williams to join the dots. See how the modern edifice of economics was built, brick by brick, from their ideas and quarrels. And find out which parts stand the test of time.Trade ReviewA crash course in the lives and ideas of thinkers-from Marx to Malthus-that everyone has heard of and a lively briefing on people, like Sismondi and Naoroji, that deserve to be better known. Succinct, critical, and entertaining -- Richard Davies, author * Extreme Economies *Short, punchy, and very well-written ... a terrific read. -- Kevin O'Rourke, author * A Short History of Brexit *These lively essays ... are consistently insightful and manage to make complex ideas clear. -- David Miles, author * Macroeconomics *Williams has chosen an engaging cast of characters; his collection is full of well-lived lives and grisly endings ... Williams relishes these little details and keeps the history lesson tearing along at pace. With roughly ten pages per economist, he writes with a style that is clear and has an eye on the student market ... Consume it as a whole or dip in and out. Either way, he leaves you a lot wiser. -- Philip Aldrick * The Times *
£9.49
Berghahn Books Money Counts: Revisiting Economic Calculation
Book Synopsis Traditionally viewed as an abstraction, the quantitative nature of money is essential in evaluating the relationship between monetary systems and society. Money Counts moves beyond abstraction, exploring the conceptual diversity and everyday enactment of money’s quantity. Drawing from case studies including British jewelers, blood-money payments in Germanic law codes, and the quotidian use of money in cosmopolitical Moscow, a Western Kenyan village, and socialist Havana, the chapters in this volume offer new theoretical and empirical interpretations of money’s quantitative nature as it relates to abstraction, sociality, materiality, freedom, and morality.Trade Review “The book points to a domain of research that is still understudied by anthropologists, and is thus a stimulation to explore it further.” • Anthropological Forum “This is a compelling collection that contributes rich case studies and sharp theoretical insights for more serious anthropological attention to money, number, and calculation.” • Anthropos “This compact collection focuses on money as number, seen from a wide range of perspectives. The style is impressively dialectical, offering hope that anthropologists may soon be open to more promising ways of engaging with money.” • Keith Hart, University of Pretoria “Why do anthropologists get so uncomfortable when it comes to working with (and on) numbers? This book provides answers and exemplifies what a quantity-embracing, yet ethnographically rich, economic anthropology can look like.” • Stefan Leins, University of KonstanzTable of Contents Introduction: The Quality of Quantity: Monetary Amounts and Their Materialities Sandy Ross, Mario Schmidt, and Ville Koskinen Chapter 1. Is Gold Jewelry Money? Peter Oakley Chapter 2. Injury and Measurement: Jacob Grimm on Blood Money and Concrete Quantification Anna Echterhölter Chapter 3. Five Thousand, 5,00, and Five Thousands: Disentangling Ruble Quantities and Qualities Sandy Ross Chapter 4. “Money is Life:” Quantity, Social Freedom, and Combinatory Practices in Western Kenya Mario Schmidt Chapter 5. Money and Morality of Commensuration: Currencies of Poverty in Post-Soviet Cuba Martin Holbraad Chapter 6. ‘Money on the Street’ as a Hoard: How Informal Moneylenders Remain Unbanked Martin Fotta Chapter 7. What is Money? A Definition Beyond Materiality and Quantity Emanuel Seitz Afterword Nigel Dodd
£22.75
Agenda Publishing Degrowth
Book SynopsisThe term “degrowth” has emerged within ecological and other heterodox schools of economics as a critique of the idea (and ideology) of economic growth. Degrowth argues that economic growth is no longer desirable – its costs exceed its benefits – and advocates a transformation of economies so that they produce and consume less, differently and better. Giorgos Kallis provides a clear and succinct guide to the central ideas of degrowth theory and explores what it would take for an economy to transition to a position that enables it to prosper without growth. The book examines how mainstream conceptualizations of the economy are challenged by degrowth theory and how degrowth draws on a multifaceted network of ideas across disciplines to shed new light on the economic process. The central claims of the degrowth literature are discussed alongside some key criticisms of them. Whether one agrees or disagrees with degrowth’s critique of economic growth, Kallis shows how it raises fundamental questions about the workings of capitalism that we can no longer afford to ignore.Trade ReviewThis is a sparkling book. It is both an urgent rallying cry and a measured and accessible introduction to the topic. Brimming with insight and humour, it tackles the question that will shape aeons: if human society doesn't learn to shrink its material footprint the consequences will be dire – so how can that task be approached? Anyone who wishes that earth remains habitable should read this book. -- Gareth Dale, Brunel University London“Kallis’s personality resonates through the pages ... clear, approachable and often humorous ... he succeeds in making Degrowth accessible to a wide audience ... the pace is well suited to those new to the subject, including students. Kallis skillfully unpacks complex concepts and provides a consistent stream of accessible analogies.” -- Maxwell Hartt, Economic GeographyMandatory reading for students, researchers and practitioners interested not only in degrowth, but also more generally in economics, politics and sustainability. The book's arguments are highly significant to tackle the key challenges of the twenty-first century – climate change, rising global inequality, economic crises ... well written: scholarly yet accessible, rigorously argued but with humor and full of everyday examples ... A welcome addition to degrowth scholarship and will have considerable influence on teaching degrowth at both undergraduate and graduate levels. -- Matthias Schmelzer, Ecological EconomicsA thought-provoking, informative and comprehensive resource ... offers both a justification as well as a vision and new imaginary for degrowth ... Kallis’ hypotheses and theories are well- researched, and linked to empirical data. -- Sarah Hafner, Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP) blogTable of Contents1. What is degrowth?2. The economics of degrowth3. Economic growth from a degrowth perspective4. The case for degrowth5. The utopia of degrowth6. Controversies, debates and future research
£23.44
Springer International Publishing AG Capital Interest and Waiting
Book SynopsisProminent economists including Nassau Senior, Eugene von B?hm-Bawerk, Gustav Cassel, Irving Fisher, Walter Eucken, and Robert Dorfman have recognized or toyed with the idea of waiting as a factor of production, but this concept has not yet been explored in its entirety until now.
£67.49
£31.19
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC A Course in Behavioral Economics
Book SynopsisThis textbook looks at decisions how we make them, and what makes them good or bad. In this bestselling introduction, Erik Angner clearly lays out the theory of behavioral economics and explains the intuitions behind it. The book offers a rich tapestry of examples, exercises, and problems drawn from fields such as economics, management, marketing, political science, and public policy. It shows how to apply the principles of behavioral economics to improve your life and work and to make the world a better place to boot. No advanced mathematics is required. This is an ideal textbook for students coming to behavioral economics from various fields. It can be used on its own in introductory courses, or in combination with other texts at advanced undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It is equally suitable for general readers who have been captivated by popular-science books on behavioral economics and want to know more about this intriguing subject. New to this Edition:- An updated cTrade ReviewThis is an exceptionally clear guide to the alternative ways economists can approach decision-making and choice. It presents a thorough introduction to both standard and behavioural theories of decision-making, equipping readers to understand the issues raised by ‘nudge' policies as opposed to their more conventional alternatives. * Diane Coyle, University of Cambridge, UK *Erik Angner has written a wonderful introductory overview of behavioral economics. This book has a unique balance between accessibility and precision, which enhances a good understanding of the key concepts in behavioral economics. It has a concise style with many examples and exercises, and thereby is a great book for teachers and students. * Kirsten Rohde, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands *This text combines a succinct yet rigorous outline of standard choice theory with a lively and engaging discussion of many key findings and concepts of behavioral economics. I especially welcome its discussion of how these insights may be used (and abused) in government and business alike. * Stephen L. Cheung, University of Sydney, Australia *Table of Contents1 Introduction PART I CHOICE UNDER CERTAINTY 2 Rational Choice Under Certainty 3 Decision-making Under Certainty PART II JUDGMENT UNDER RISK AND UNCERTAINTY 4 Probability Judgment 5 Judgment Under Risk and Uncertainty PART III CHOICE UNDER RISK AND UNCERTAINTY 6 Rational Choice Under Risk and Uncertainty 7 Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty PART IV INTERTEMPORAL CHOICE 8 The Discounted Utility Model 9 Intertemporal Choice PART V STRATEGIC INTERACTION 10 Analytical Game Theory 11 Behavioral Game Theory PART VI CONCLUDING REMARKS 12 Behavioral Policy 13 General Discussion.
£43.69
Taylor & Francis Critical Theory
Book SynopsisCritical Theory: The Basics brings clarity to a topic that is confusingly bandied about with various meanings today in popular and academic culture.First defined by Max Horkheimer in the 1930s, critical theory now extends far beyond its original German context around the Frankfurt School and the emergence of Nazism. We now often speak of critical theories of race, gender, anti-colonialism, and so forth. This book introduces especially the core program of the first-generation of the Frankfurt School (including Horkheimer, Theodor W. Adorno, Erich Fromm, and Herbert Marcuse), and shows how this program remains crucial to understanding the problems, ideologies, and systems of the modern world, including capitalism, racism, sexism, and the enduring problems of colonialism. It explores basic questions like: What is critical theory? What can critical theory be? What should it be? Why and how does critical theory remain vital to understanding
£16.99
Cornerstone The Origin Of Wealth
Book SynopsisEconomics is changing radically. This paradigm shift, the biggest in the field for over a century, will have profound implications for business, government and society for decades to come.In this groundbreaking book, economic thinker and writer Eric Beinhocker surveys the cutting-edge ideas of the leading economists, physicists, biologists and cognitive scientists who are fundamentally reshaping economics, and brings their work alive for a broad audience.These researchers argue that the economy is a ''complex adaptive system'', more akin to the brain, the internet or an ecosystem than to the static picture of economic systems portrayed by traditional theory. They claim it is the evolutionary process of differentiation, selection and amplification, acting on designs for technologies, social institutions and businesses that drives growth in the economy over time. If Adam Smith provided the inspiration for economics in the twentieth century, it is Charles Darwin who is Trade Review... A brilliant, thought-provoking and wide-ranging book ... anybody interested in understanding why we are where we are should read it. For me, it was more than the business book of 2006; it was the book of 2006 -- Martin Wolf * Financial Times *Beinhocker is nothing if not ambitious -- Sir Howard Davies, director of The LSE * The Times Higher Educational Supplement *An absorbing survey...[a] tour de force -- James Pressley * Bloomberg *Economic thinking has changed radically in the last fifteen years.Eric Beinhocker gives us a sparkling tour of the new ideas. -- Professor W. Brian Arthur, Santa Fe InstituteFor business readers and academics, Beinhocker is a zealous and able guide * Publishers Weekly *
£13.49
Yale University Press The Marginal Revolutionaries
Book SynopsisTrade Review“A fair-minded, deeply researched account of how a school of thought developed and wielded influence . . . quite well done, and full of fascinating stories.”—Justin Fox, New York Times Book Review“A masterly history.”—George Melloan, Wall Street Journal“The book is a fair- minded, deeply researched account of how a school of thought developed and wielded influence”— Justin Fox, International New York Times“[A] book that no one interested in the interrelationships between Austrian economics and the renaissance of liberal thought can afford to disregard”—Hansjörg Klausinger, Contemporary Austrian Studies“Wasserman’s masterful book paints a much needed critical yet scholarly picture of the Austrian School...Unlike many of the accounts written by people personally connected to the School, he brings attention to these thinkers’ privileged backgrounds and lifestyles, their fundamentally elitist politics, and the important connections to wealthy benefactors with clear political agendas.”—Ola Innset, Erasmus Journal for Philosophy and Economics“Wasserman tells an original story of a real school of economic thought from its very beginnings to the present…tracing the constant interaction between individual thinkers and an intellectual community that has survived over time…The story as a whole is fascinating.”—Antonio Magliulo, The Journal of European Economic History“Likely to become a standard reference...The author is admirably even-handed in his assessments of both the adherents and critics of Austrianism.”—David Throsby, Times Literary Supplement“Shines in its treatment of the School as a sociological entity, and it demonstrates that social ties can overcome many intellectual differences...Makes a compelling case on sociological grounds for the inclusion of Friedrich Wieser, Hans Mayer, Joseph Schumpeter and Oskar Morgenstern in the School”—Erwin Dekker, European Journal of the History of Economic ThoughtWinner of the Joseph Spengler Best Book Prize, sponsored by the History of Economics Society “This is a vital book for our times. Janek Wasserman’s study is learned and accessible, demystifying and elegant; above all, it corrects popular misconceptions about the origins and legacies of Austrian economics.”—Jeremy Adelman, Princeton University“Over more than a hundred years, the Austrian School of Economics was born, emigrated, split, revived and transformed. Janek Wasserman has done the impossible, producing a readable guide to the whole story while shirking none of the school’s complexity. A serious achievement.”—Quinn Slobodian, author of Globalists: The End of Empire and the Birth of Neoliberalism“Janek Wasserman deftly traces the filiation of Austrian economic ideas from the café culture of pre-war Vienna to the online universe of the contemporary alt-right. The result is a stimulating history of economists such as Mises and Hayek, and their influence on our era. Well-written, compelling, and entirely accessible, this book deserves a broad readership.”—Robert Leonard, Université du Québec à Montréal“[ . . . ] Wasserman has succeeded in providing a rich and worthwhile overview of Austrian economics.”—D. Mitch, University of Maryland Baltimore County
£18.99
Cambridge University Press Progress through Regression
Book Synopsis
£23.74
Penguin Books Ltd Greed Is Dead
Book SynopsisTrade Reviewthis thoughtful polemic... is clear, punchy and... convincing... their breezy, no-nonsense guide is packed with excellent advice - a plea for expertise rather than feeling, for pragmatism rather than ideology and for listening rather than shouting. -- Christina Patterson * Sunday Times *Two of the most thoughtful economists writing today ... Collier and Kay are interesting on almost every subject they alight upon. -- Richard Reeves * Literary Review *Written by two of the UK's best economists, the book attacks the solipsistic individualism that permeates modern economics and far too much of modern society. The book's animating idea is that humans are first and foremost social animals. Our successes always depend on co-operation. The authors apply this concept to our economic, social and political institutions, which can, they argue, only be revived by being seen as self-sustaining communities. -- Martin Wolf * Financial Times Books of the Year *Their analysis is pitiless and compelling. This is a fine, incisive polemic. -- Clement Knox * Telegraph *In a provocative but thought-provoking and nuanced argument, Collier and Kay argue that our culture of hyper-centralisation is choking us. -- Books of the Year * Daily Telegraph *
£9.49
Oxford University Press Choice Theory
Book SynopsisWe make choices all the time - about trivial matters, about how to spend our money, about how to spend our time, about what to do with our lives. And we are also constantly judging the decisions other people make as rational or irrational. But what kind of criteria are we applying when we say that a choice is rational? What guides our own choices, especially in cases where we don''t have complete information about the outcomes? What strategies should be applied in making decisions which affect a lot of people, as in the case of government policy?This book explores what it means to be rational in all these contexts. It introduces ideas from economics, philosophy, and other areas, showing how the theory applies to decisions in everyday life, and to particular situations such as gambling and the allocation of resources.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade Reviewa spirited and efficient welcome for newcomers should brighten many minds already much immersed - make them newcomers again. * Sydney Afriat, University of Siena *Table of Contents1. Choice and desire ; 2. Reason and rationality ; 3. Racing and roulette ; 4. Gambling and insurance ; 5. Conflict and cooperation ; 6. Democracy and Dictatorship
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Trillions
Book SynopsisBest books of 2021, Financial Times''Grab some popcorn and take a front row seat, because Robin Wigglesworth has an astonishing story to tell you'' Tim Harford, author of How to Make the World Add Up''A fascinating account of an investment revolution'' Ian Fraser, Literary Review''A magisterial, delightfully written history offering up portraits of the academic scribblers and entrepreneurial practitioners who created the index-fund revolution'' The Wall Street Journal''Wigglesworth has written an important book'' Patrick Hosking, Financial Editor, The Times''A terrific read'' Gregory Zuckerman, author of The Man Who Solved the Market''A fascinating journey and a crucial book for anyone trying to understand the financial markets'' Bradley Hope, author of Billion Dollar Whale--------------------------------------------------------------Trade ReviewThe simplest, humblest ideas are sometimes the ones that turn the world upside down. Grab some popcorn and take a front row seat, because Robin Wigglesworth has an astonishing story to tell you * Tim Harford, author of How to Make the World Add Up *Trillions is both entertaining and educational. Wigglesworth explores one of the most important modern-day financial innovations and explains its broad impact on financial markets, investors, global economies and even capitalism. A terrific read and a topic that will become more important as passive investments increasingly dominate markets. Wigglesworth brings what could be a dull topic to full life * Gregory Zuckerman, special writer at the Wall Street Journal and author of The Man Who Solved the Market *As only the incomparable Robin Wigglesworth could do, in Trillions he turns the often obscured history of the investment industry into a rollicking great yarn, replete with admirable heroes, political infighting, fascinating diversions and unexpected triumphs * William Cohan, special correspondent at Vanity Fair and author of The Last Tycoons *Very few writers can tell a great story and help us understand a big idea. Robin Wigglesworth is one of those rare journalists who can. His history of the index fund is required reading for anyone who wants to know where the financial markets have come, and where they are going. It's also just a wonderfully engaging romp through the last half century of market news * Rana Foroohar, global business columnist at the Financial Times and author of Don't Be Evil *This is a tour de force. Passive investing has become a bedrock of finance but very few investors understand where and how this practice emerged from and how it is changing markets in a way that impacts us all. Wigglesworth has turned this arcane tale into an easy-to-understand and fun read, full of lively characters and little known details of how finance really works today. Anyone who wants to understand modern investing should read it * Gillian Tett, chair of the editorial board and US editor-at-large at the Financial Times and author of Fool's Gold *A real tour de force, this engaging and thought-provoking book brings together several historical threads - from Warren Buffett's famous hedge fund bet to the 'Manhattan Project of financial economics' - to show how passive investing and index funds have evolved into an ETF phenomenon that has 'humble[d] the investment industry ... reshape[d] finance forever,' and now poses risks for future financial stability and economic wellbeing * Mohamed El Erian, Chief Economic Adviser of Allianz and author of When Markets Collide *The greatest change in investing in the last 100 years is brought to life like never before. A page turner! * Fred Grauer, former CEO of Wells Fargo Investment Advisors *Robin Wigglesworth is one of the most lucid and exciting journalists writing about finance today. Trillions tackles the enormous changes that have swept the investing world through the stories of its charismatic innovators. It's a fascinating journey and a crucial book for anyone trying to understand the financial markets * Bradley Hope, writer at Project Brazen and author of Billion Dollar Whale *A fascinating account of an investment revolution. Trillions should be read not just by millionaires, billionaires and trillionaires, but by anyone who has a pension plan, individual savings account or money invested, directly or indirectly, in the stock market * Ian Fraser, Literary Review *A magisterial, delightfully written history offering up portraits of the academic scribblers and entrepreneurial practitioners who created the index-fund revolution. It also contains common-sense wisdom that will benefit all investors. * The Wall Street Journal *Wigglesworth has written an important book. Passive has mostly been a boon, but its impact in future may not be so benevolent. Investors, companies and regulators need to apprehend the water they are swimming in * Patrick Hosking, Financial Editor of The Times *Paul Volcker once quipped that the greatest innovation in finance in recent decades was the humble ATM. Not so, argues the FT global finance correspondent who makes the case for the index fund as the instrument that democratised investing, upended established structures and changed capitalism. Told through the stories of the group of radical nerds who made it all happen * Best books of 2021, Financial Times *
£10.44
Institute of Economic Affairs Financial Stability Without Central Banks
Book SynopsisThis book shows how a system of private banks without a central bank can bring about financial stability through self-regulation. If one bank stretches credit too far, it will be reined in by the others before the system as a whole gets out of control.
£10.00
MIT Press Adaptive Finance
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£43.20
Yale University Press Whats Wrong with Economics
Book SynopsisTrade Review“[A]n important and fundamentally correct critique of the core methodology of economics: individualistic; analytical; ahistorical; asocial; and apolitical.”—Martin Wolf, Financial Times“This impassioned critique aims to show how economic laws have limited scope compared with the laws in natural science. To be effective, Skidelsky argues, economics must include institutions and their power, and move towards social sciences such as politics and sociology.”—Andrew Robinson, Nature“[T]his book is a staple for trying to quench curiosity and a great bridge from a bachelor’s in standard economics to economic methodology and the philosophy of economics.”—Ella Needler and Maria João Pimenta, Erasmus Journal for Philosophy and Economics“[Skidelsky] argues that the insights of behavioural economics, and other heterodoxies, are either ignored or treated as special cases of only limited relevance. All of this has resonance.”—Bridget Rosewell, Society of Professional Economists“Skidelsky’s book is a much-needed contribution to the ongoing debate of the shortcomings of mainstream economics and its economic policy suggestions. . . . I think that the book should be essential reading not only for all students of economics but for everyone who is interested in a deeper understanding of major contemporary economic and political issues.”—Stavros A. Drakopoulos, History of Economic Ideas“Robert Skidelsky has written the book that anyone who wants to learn economics—and anyone who thinks that they know economics—should read.”—Meghnad Desai, author of Hubris: Why Economists Failed to Predict the Crisis and How to Avoid the Next One“This is a cogent and highly readable exposure of economics as a discourse, often free from the constraints of history and politics, and therefore free to inhabit an imaginary world underpinned by the seductive verities of logic and mathematics. It also helps to explain why 2008 took the whole world by surprise.”—Gareth Stedman Jones, author of An End to Poverty?“Skidelsky gives a wonderfully readable, compelling and compassionate account of where economics goes wrong. This is an urgent message for all sides to hear.”—Nancy Cartwright, professor of philosophy, Durham University
£12.88
WW Norton & Co The Courage to Act
Book SynopsisBen S. Bernanke’s rise to chair of the Federal Reserve, the massive financial crisis, and the Fed’s bold and effective response.Trade Review"Bernanke details the hurdles he faced, from cynically obstructive congressmen to obstreperous regulators and quarrelsome interest rate hawks, as well as hapless policymaking in Europe. During much of the panic, he writes: “The Fed alone, with its chewing gum and baling wire, bore the burden of battling the crisis.” The guts of his story are familiar. It is well narrated with regular flashes of colour…" -- Financial Times"The former chair has penned a lucid account of the crisis and its aftermath... Mr Bernanke’s narrative of his time in office is a lucid, analytical affair… the book provides a robust defence of the Fed’s response to the crisis. Mr Bernanke clearly sees himself as someone who did what was necessary to save the economy from disaster, in the face of a barrage of unwarranted criticism. The result is a book which compels..." -- The Economist"It was Ben Bernanke, not Gordon Brown, who steered us through the 2008 financial meltdown...the book's most interesting chapters are those that deal with the crisis...Above all, [Bernanke] exuded calm, even when there was plenty of inner turmoil. The calmness comes over in this book, and so does plenty of the turmoil." -- The Sunday Times"It was a happy chance that this scholar, known for his work on the Great Depression, was chairman of the central banking system of the US during the biggest financial crisis since the early 1930s. His [Bernanke's] new book, The Courage to Act, provides a fascinating account of the effort to save the world from another such catastrophe." -- Martin Wolf, Lunch with the FT - Financial Times"'Why', asked the Queen during her visit to the London School of Economics in November 2008, 'did no one see it coming?' The most thorough and persuasive explanation yet comes in a book by one of the key people, arguably the key person, involved, Ben Bernanke, chair of the US Federal Reserve Board." -- The Independent"Bernanke's memoir is a crucial document of record that will be invaluable to future historians. As far as any memoir can be, it is an honest and accurate account. There is no hubris or exaggeration: simply a telling of the tale of the most dramatic period in office of any Fed Chairman to date." -- Mervyn King - Prospect"Bernanke was at the helm of the world's most important central bank during the financial crisis of 2007-08... Here he gives a compelling account of what he and the Federal Reserve did and why they did it... the defence of the Fed against its critics is compelling. " -- Best Books of 2015 - Financial Times"This memoir is a much better read than that of his predecessor, Alan Greenspan: the writing flows easily and the book is much better structured." -- The Irish Times
£26.59
WW Norton & Co Teachings from the Worldly Philosophy
Book SynopsisSelections from great writings on economics, annotated and introduced by a distinguished economist and teacher.Trade Review"Judicious and generous selections from the key writings of masters of the economics game, complete with perceptive commentary." -- Kirkus Reviews"Heilbroner has come as close as a historian of economics gets to being a household name. . . . He makes hundreds of years of economic writings accessible and lively." -- Gina Neff - Nation"An easy-access guide to the seminal writings of the great economists, selected and annotated with the idea that 'economics is inextricably sociopolitical in nature.' . . . A welcome refresher course." -- New York Observer
£14.24
University of California Press Equity Growth and Community
Book SynopsisOver the years, much has been written about growing economic challenges, increasing income inequality, and political polarization in the United States. This book argues that lessons for addressing these national challenges are emerging from a new set of realities in America's metropolitan regions.Trade Review"The text’s ultimate strength lies in its pedagogical usefulness as resource for methods classes. The trove of data and resources available on the book’s website and free e-book version of the text make it a useful foundation for project-based statistics and mixed-methods courses." * Teaching Sociology *
£15.75
Harvard University Press After Piketty
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe book serves as a fantastic introduction to Piketty’s main argument in Capital [in the Twenty-First Century], and to some of the main criticisms, including doubt that his key equation—r > g, showing that returns on capital grow faster than the economy—will hold true in the long run. It also contains thoughtful interventions in debates about the political economy of inequality. -- Aaron Reeves * Nature *[Boushey, DeLong, and Steinbaum] have curated an impressive set of essays responding to Piketty’s work…Among them are deep dives into the assumptions underlying Piketty’s predictions, historical accounts of the role of slavery and gender in capitalist systems, and considerations of the relationship between concentrated wealth and political power. The essays put Piketty’s arguments into a broad historical and intellectual context and highlight some noteworthy omissions that call into question his book’s most dire predictions. At the end of the volume, Piketty himself weighs in. The result is an intellectual excursion of a kind rarely offered by modern economics. -- Melissa S. Kearney * Foreign Affairs *The essays in After Piketty are impressively diverse, not only in their subject matter but also in the way they relate to Piketty’s original text. Several launch straightforward critiques of his work—both of what he has done and what he has failed to do—while others present complementary ideas that aim to enrich his arguments. -- Matt Mazewski * Commonweal *The topics discussed in the book affect all citizens. High inequality should concern everyone because it is a moral, social and political issue. -- Asad Abbasi * LSE Review of Books *The book, edited by economists Heather Boushey, J. Bradford Delong and Marshall Steinbaum, is more interesting than the original. It benefits from having 21 essays on different inequality-related topics. As Piketty says in his gracious response, included at the end of this 660-page volume, the many authors bring a welcome breadth of expertise…Piketty’s commentators raise more questions than they answer, but they are important questions about a significant social challenge. -- Edward Hadas * Breakingviews *Unusually for such a large and varied collection, almost all the papers are worth reading. They repeat themselves rarely; they examine multiple different perspectives; and most of them are well and conservatively argued…[Piketty’s concluding essay] is written with great attention to criticism and humility about his conclusions. In it, Piketty insists that [Capital in the Twenty-First Century’s] purpose was to start a conversation. By the evidence of his concluding essay, and the book in general, that conversation is well underway. -- Mihir S. Sharma * Business Standard *Piketty’s work did what decades of rising disparities couldn’t do: it reminded macroeconomists that inequality matters. More starkly, it laid bare just how ill-equipped our existing frameworks are for understanding, predicting, and changing inequality. This extraordinary collection shows that our most nimble social scientists are responding to the challenge, collecting ideas about capital, technology, power, gender, race, and privilege that might help inform a broader understanding. -- Justin Wolfers, University of MichiganThomas Piketty’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century forcibly entered the public imagination in 2014, but the book’s impact on academic thinking and research is only just starting to be felt. The essays in After Piketty offer new findings and admirably lay out an agenda that will influence future research on inequality, opportunity, and measurement for years to come. -- Miles Corak, University of OttawaHeather Boushey, Brad DeLong, and Marshall Steinbaum have convened and shaped an ambitious and refreshingly frank conversation about Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century. This extraordinary gathering of two dozen authors—working across disciplinary boundaries—interrogates Piketty’s core claims about the causes, correlates, characteristics, and consequences of high and rising levels of income and wealth inequality in the West. The gathered authors celebrate and hone Capital’s far-reaching contributions; they also tackle substantial weaknesses and assess omissions. Readers unfamiliar with Capital will find an accessible synthesis, graduates of the original book will emerge with a more nuanced understanding, and inequality scholars—newcomers and veterans—will revise their research agendas. -- Janet C. Gornick, Professor of Political Science and Sociology, Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality, City University of New York
£18.95
Taylor & Francis Ltd Essays in Applied Economics
Book SynopsisFirst Published in 1965. Written in 1923 this is a collection of essays on applied economics and covers a wide range of topics in this area such as the private use of money, prices and wages from 1896 to 1914, income tax and co-operative societies, foreign exchanges and small holdings.Table of ContentsChapter 1 The Private Use of Money 1 From the Contemporary Review, April, 1922.; Chapter 2 Employers and Economic Chivalry; Chapter 3 Long and Short Hirings From the Contemporary Review, September, 1922.; Chapter 4 Unemployment and the Great Slump 1 From the Contemporary Review, December, 1921.; Chapter 5 A Minimum Wage for Agriculture 1 Reproduced with modifications from The Nineteenth Century, December, 1913.; Chapter 6 Trade Boards and the Cave Committee 1 From the Economic Journal, September, 1922.; Chapter 7 Prices and Wages from 1896–1914 1 From the Economic Journal, June, 1923.; Chapter 8 Eugenics and some Wage Problems 1 The Galton Lecture: Eugenics Review, April, 1923.; Chapter 9 Small Holdings; Chapter 10 The Concentration of Population; Chapter 11 Some Aspects of the Housing Problem 1 The Warburton Lecture, Manchester University, 1914.; Chapter 12 The Report of the Royal Commission on the Income Tax 1 From the Quarterly Journal of Economics, August, 1920. The main part of the recommendations discussed in this article has been adopted by Parliament, the standard rate of tax being, however, now (1923) 4 s. 6 d. instead of 6 s. The ‘existing law’ of the text it not, therefore, the law that exists now (1923).; Chapter 13 Income Tax and Co-operative Societies 1 From the Economic Journal, June, 1920.; Chapter 14 The Real Ratio of International Interchange 1 From the Manchester Guardian Reconstruction Supplement, December, 1922.; Chapter 15 The Foreign Exchanges 1 From the Quarterly Journal of Economics, November, 1922.; Chapter 16 The Exchange Value of Legal-Tender Money 1 Reprintcd in part from the Quarterly Journal of Economics, November, 1917.;
£133.00
Penguin Books Ltd Paper Promises Money Debt and the New World Order
Book SynopsisWinner of the Spears Business Book of the Year AwardLonglisted for the Financial Times Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year AwardIn today''s financial climate, we are all, naturally, obsessed by debt. In almost every aspect of our life we experience it - on our credit cards, mortgages, bank loans and student loans. But where has this debt come from? How does it work? What is any money really worth? And what promises do we need to believe to keep the whole system afloat?In this fascinating look at money through the ages - including our own unstable future - award-winning financial journalist Philip Coggan examines the flawed structure of the global finance systems as they exist today, and asks, with deeper imbalances that the world is currently facing, what''s actually at stake.Trade ReviewBold and confident ... Coggan covers the terrain with characteristic calmness and objectivity, avoids over-simplification, and laces his arguments with his trademark erudition ... The alphabet soup of acronyms, from SIVs to CDO Squareds, is blissfully lacking ... Finally, the book is free from the shrieking ideology that afflicts virtually all contemporary debates over money. Indeed, it offers a clear explanation of the fresh ideological divisions that have arisen over how to deal with the crisis ... the book should be taken very seriously * Financial Times *This book stands way above anything written on the present economic crisis -- Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of 'The Black Swan'The most illuminating account of the financial crisis to appear to date ... [written] with a lucidity that enables him to convey deep insights without a trace of jargon ... [a] thought-stirring book -- John Gray * New Statesman *A remarkable book from one of the most respected economics journalists on the planet. Every page brings a fresh insight or a new surprise. A delight -- Tim Harford, author of 'The Undercover Economist'Fascinating and authoritative, with the rigour and depth to satisfy an economist and the accessibility and pace to engage the layperson ... If everyone read Coggan's book we might just be a little more circumspect if and when the next burst of irrational exuberance overtakes the economy * Management Today *A masterful history of financial crises * Independent *By far the best analysis of the "new normal" -- David Stevenson * Financial Times *An excellent book ... a smart and witty analysis of the current economic storm, set in the context of the history of money -- David Wighton * The Times *Coggan is ... an exceptional banking and economic historian * Irish Examiner *Coggan traces 'history's tug of war between monetary shortage and excess' in this engaging and timely book about the current financial crisis.... Thoughtful and thorough * Publishers Weekly *Intriguing * Irish Independent *Coggan ... deserves his Best Communicator award: he moves the story along at a fast and flowing pace, combined with the ability to find the short phrase that summarizes in simple language the kernel of many complex economic ideas ... demonstrates a comprehensive awareness of the major academic debates in economics and economic history ... deserves to be one of the three books you read from the vast literature spawned by the recent crisis -- John Gent * LSE blog *A very good and sensible introduction to the history of the recent economic crisis, with an emphasis on debt and also historical perspective * Tyler Cowen Blog *
£10.44
