Political economy Books

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Book SynopsisThe Business of Government is your guide to a new breed of business planning that meshes private sector strategies with a methodology designed exclusively for the public sector. No other strategic planning guide offers this hands-on, public sector focus. The Business of Government provides guidance, tools, and real-world examples you can use right away to analyze where you stand and what specific steps are needed to take you to the "managing for results" platform that is the centerpiece of the Results Act of 1993 – and your springboard to a whole new level of performance. It explains how to initiate, manage, measure and sustain a remarkable transformation - an approach proven to produce a dramatic impact on public policy and service to the citizen. Plus, the book includes model documents ready to adapt for your own program, including an actual business plan, sample financials, and sample performance report. Learn how to define and deliver a new era of results as you: • Dramatically improve critical thinking and innovation • Develop a business strategy proven to work in government • Overcome implementation obstacles - including "old culture" • Align support organizations • Establish a senior management council • Oversee strategy implementation teams • Write annual performance reports explaining your results Profit from expert advice on applying today's best "smart government" tools, including these: 1. Strategies: Transformational leadership strategies that address change-resistance, skills gaps and other challenges. 2. Gap analysis methodology: A proven model for assessing how your organization may have drifted from mission — and how to get back on track. 3. Tactics: Specific technology, human resource, and process solutions for adjusting and invigorating your programs. Case studies: Real-world "lessons learned" to help you apply the most successful solutions

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Book SynopsisToday's Best Performance Improvement Practices Tailored to Government Performance-Oriented Management: A Practical Guide for Government Agencies will help you make a smooth transition from a management philosophy that is reactive and task-oriented to one based on a vision of accomplishment. With this practical, authoritative, and comprehensive guidebook, you'll have a tested framework and process for making the change to performance improvement. The method is based on the acclaimed Malcolm Baldrige Assessment Criteria for performance improvement, which are regarded as a national benchmark. Performance-Oriented Management will give you a solid understanding of the basics of performance improvement. With this must-have resource, you'll: • Get a detailed method to position your organization for major change • Understand the benefits of performance-oriented, rather than task-oriented, management • Learn how to determine your destination (vision) and your starting point (assessment) • Discover why top management must initiate and drive the change • Learn why assessment and strategic planning are of paramount importance — not add-on programs for an already-overloaded workforce • Find out why it's critical that planning drives the budget, rather than the budget driving planning. Develop a step-by-step, comprehensive, top-down method for implementing performance improvement

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Book SynopsisLearn to use this proven-effective method to integrate cost, schedule, and technical performance. Get a briefing on essential terms, key objectives, benefits of EVM, best practices and how to implement them, regulations governing the use of EVM, and much, much more. If you’re new to EVM, you’ll get the basic understanding you need to apply techniques. If you’re already familiar with EVM, you’ll increase and strengthen your knowledge for greater success.

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Book SynopsisLearn how you can apply this strategic method to boost flexibility and innovation in business arrangements. Find out how PBC is being used by government and industry leaders to motivate sellers to deliver products, services, and solutions that meet or exceed buyers’ requirements. Discover how to apply performance standards, metrics, and other incentives for superior results. Become familiar with current techniques such as the performance work statement (PWS), statement of objectives (SOO), quality assurance surveillance plan (QASP), and more.

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Book SynopsisPricing is at the heart of every deal in government or business – but figuring out the right approach isn’t easy. This ActionPack book gives you an overview of key estimating and pricing issues – and outlines a variety of approaches to cost estimating and pricing. Whether you’re an entry-level or experienced professional, you’ll learn invaluable new techniques for achieving the best pricing results.

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Book SynopsisGet an overview of the legal underpinnings of the contracting process. Learn why things are done in certain ways. And become familiar with the constitutional, statutory, and regulatory laws behind the rule or practice. This ActionPack book will equip you with a deeper understanding of government contracting practices to inform all your contracting activities. Ideal for all levels of professionals from novices to senior managers.

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Book SynopsisThe Best Guide to Past Performance Evaluation in Government Contracting Just Got Better! The Past Performance Handbook has long been the resource contracting professionals have turned to for guidance on evaluating contractor performance and making award decisions in competitive acquisitions based on the evaluation results. Now this essential resource has been completely updated and revised to bring readers the most up-to-date information they need to conduct past performance evaluations. Past Performance Handbook: Applying Commercial Practices to Federal Procurement, Second Edition, not only includes a detailed explanation of the process of past performance evaluation, but also presents new approaches to standardizing assessment areas and rating scales, streamlining the source selection process, and ensuring that awards are made to the most qualified offerors. This thoroughly revised second edition offers: • Additional focus on the collaboration between the government and contractors in providing past performance information • Enhanced definitions of numerical scoring, adjectival ratings, color coding schema, and risk assessments — all consistent with the current guidelines issued by the Department of Defense and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) • Updated citations from the Federal Acquisition Regulation, OFPP, and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) • Abridged GAO decisions that provide details for citations included in the text. Contracting officers and contractors working with the government will find value in every chapter of this updated edition.

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Book SynopsisFollow the Path to Success in Federal Construction Contracting Opportunities abound in federal government construction contracting, but the devil is in the details. Companies performing work for the federal government must plan and operate based on very specific guidelines and regulations. Knowing how to work within those strict parameters makes the difference between success and failure. Federal Construction Contracting Made Easy is your road map to successfully identifying, planning, and completing government construction projects. This book guides you in finding opportunities, preparing winning proposals, and staying in compliance on construction projects. It is the one resource you will need to work in this competitive arena. The book provides guidance on: • Understanding the Federal Acquisition Regulation and knowing when and how to use it for your benefit and protection • Preparing quality control and safety programs that comply with federal regulations and processes • Determining when a change order is required and how to price and properly process • Identifying a claim and knowing how to process it Federal Construction Contracting Made Easy is an invaluable resource for construction firms, architect/engineer firms, subcontractors, and vendors that want to do business with the federal government. Plus! A handy glossary of terms is included. Bonus: Federal Construction Contracting Made Easy: A Field Guide to the FAR is available as a supplement for project superintendents.

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Book SynopsisThis master reference is essential if you contract with the government! Correctly pricing your goods or services—and making certain that those prices are in compliance with myriad federal rules and regulations—is essential to doing business with the government...and ensuring your commercial success. Cost-Based Pricing: A Guide for Government Contractors shows you how to appropriately estimate and price for government contracts and defend those estimates in a government contracting and subcontracting environment. This practical book includes coverage of all government pricing rules and regulations as well as pertinent aspects of related laws, such as the Truth in Negotiations Act. The book walks you through every step of the estimating process. From figuring direct labor costs to intra-company transfers to contract modifications, the coverage is extensive yet accessible for even those new to the process. Using Cost-Based Pricing, you will be able to: • Develop more realistic estimates • Enhance your support of those estimates in negotiations • Avoid violations of the Truth in Negotiations Act • Increase your chances of securing a fair and reasonable price Cost-Based Pricing: A Guide for Government Contractors can make the difference between your success—and profitability—and failure in the federal government arena.

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Book SynopsisThe Classic COR/COTR Reference Updated! Incorporating the most important changes to regulations affecting federal acquisition, this third edition of The COR/COTR Answer Book remains the “go to” reference for CORs, COs, and other acquisition professionals. Included in this third edition are: • Updated and expanded coverage of the policies and regulations on government property • Revised dollar thresholds that comply with the most recent changes • In-depth coverage of performance-based payments Coverage of the new FAR rules on COR certification details the elements of this new three-tiered mandatory certification program, along with the requirements on training, experience, and continuous learning.The easy-to-use question and answer format facilitates quick access to specific information. In this third edition, The COR/COTR Answer Book continues a tradition of trusted service to acquisition professionals carrying out their vital role in contract planning, formation, and administration.

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Book SynopsisUnlock the Door to the Federal IT Marketplace Here’s your key to selling IT goods and services to the government. David Perera and Steve Charles present the ins and outs of successfully competing for—and winning—a share of the tens of billions of dollars the federal government spends each year on IT. Getting a piece of that business is not easy—it takes accurate knowledge of systems and procedures, as well as sharp insight into the structure and details of government procurement. The Inside Guide to the Federal IT Market penetrates the haze of jargon and apparent complexity to reveal the inner workings of the IT contracting process. Whether you’re just setting out or seek a bigger share, this comprehensive book provides valuable information you can put to immediate use. The Inside Guide to the Federal IT Market covers: • Technology standards • Basic contracting concepts • Advanced contracting concepts, such as getting on and staying on the GSA schedules • The effect of the federal budget process on the sales cycle • What you need to know about ethics to earn business fairly, without avoidable delays and hassle This book’s focus on the IT market makes it a unique reference on federal procurement for private companies. Government procurement personnel will also find the depth and breadth of coverage useful in reviewing and evaluating IT offerings.

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Book SynopsisGet the right directions for federal travel! Don’t get lost in the tangled web of rules and regulations governing federal travel. Make sure you have the one guide that will put you on the road to being a knowledgeable and compliant government traveler— Navigating Federal Travel: A Q & A Roadmap. This essential reference is geared not only to government travelers and those authorizing and approving travel, but also to those who provide travel management services to government agencies. The guide is organized in question-and-answer format, similar to the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), and is presented to be readily accessible and informative. The information is based on the author’s years of experience as a federal travel manager as well as the FTR, Government Accountability Office and Civilian Board of Contract Appeals decisions, and pertinent legislation and mandates. As a supplement to the FTR, the guide includes examples of actual and potential situations the traveler may encounter before, during, and after approval of authorized travel. The book offers clear and concise information on: • How to determine the need for travel • How travel is authorized and by whom • How the employee pays for expenses incurred in performing official travel • How the employee is reimbursed for authorized travel and travel-related expenses. Navigating Federal Travel also includes coverage of best practices for the Agency/Organization Program Coordinator (A/OPC), who is responsible for managing the government travel charge card program. Appendices offer helpful websites and resources as well as special information for relocation. Get the right directions and follow the rules with Navigating Federal Travel: A Q & A Roadmap.

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Book SynopsisTo be effective, every government manager must have a working knowledge of the source selection process. Even the most carefully crafted contract cannot repair the adverse mission impact of making a poor source selection decision. This accessible guide provides the framework you need. Its practical approach and concise presentation make it to the go-to resource on source selection for busy government managers.

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Book SynopsisThis guide offers sound and easy-to-apply advice to help government managers deal with appropriated funds properly and legally. It follows the organization of the Redbook, the Government Accountability Office’s 2,000+ page Principles of Federal Appropriations Law. Government purchase card holders and approvers will find this book especially helpful in understanding the common risks that arise and how to avoid violating the myriad rules and regulations involved.

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Book SynopsisBuilding and leading teams that ensure project success may not be easy, but the techniques involved are straightforward and workable. Lisa DiTullio demonstrates that enhancing team dynamics to improve performance in the federal environment does not have to be complicated or time-consuming. Her time-tested best practices, tips, and processes will help any government manager develop and lead a better team.

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Book SynopsisThe Government Manager’s Guide to the Work Breakdown Structure The work breakdown structure (WBS) is a cornerstone of managing any project. Every government manager should understand how to construct a WBS in the project or program lifecycle. This quick reference presents the fundamental WBS principles, pragmatic steps for the government manager to follow in developing a project WBS, and a checklist for the project manager to use in reviewing a WBS. In addition, DOD recommendations for avoiding pitfalls in constructing a WBS are highlighted.

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Book SynopsisThe Government Manager’s Guide to Contract Negotiation Federal managers often find themselves at the negotiating table, charged with reaching a solid, fair deal for their agency. Now, you can gain a competitive edge in even the most difficult negotiations with time-tested, effective tactics from a noted authority on federal negotiations. This guide will help you understand the negotiation process, plan for it, develop strategies and tactics, anticipate and counter the other side’s strategies and tactics, and conclude and document the negotiation. Concise, accessible, and authoritative, this book offers a veritable arsenal of winning strategies that you and your team can use in your next negotiation.

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Book SynopsisStrategic planning deals with long-term goals and objectives. Performance management focusing on the performance of an organization, department, process, or employee—is what makes strategic planning work. Neither can be done without the other, but both must be adapted to the organization. This volume is designed as a reference for those involved in the day to-day challenge of performance management and measurement. Government managers will find ideas and practices that can be applied effectively in the federal environment.

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Book SynopsisThis volume offers practical guidance on writing and preparing a description of government requirements, whether the document used is a statement of work (SOW), a performance work statement (PWS), or a statement of objectives (SOO). This description specifies exactly what good and services are being purchased, including their quality, requirements, quantity, and schedule for delivery, and also defines the relationship between the government and the contractor. From an overview of the elements that make a good SOW, to the methods for changing an SOW to meet new conditions, this is a hands-on resource for every government manager who is involved with contracts.

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Book SynopsisThis volume presents practical guidance for the government manager on earned value management (EVM), from basic calculations to how to find the most useful information online. Emphasis is on the relevant reports that contractors are required to submit to the federal government as part of their compliance with mandated EVM on projects. Because the data submitted on reports do not translate automatically into recommendations for actions to be taken, information is included on how to analyze and evaluate contractor reports. This book is a must-read for understanding EVM on government projects.

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Book SynopsisThis practical volume offers clear and helpful guidance on the laws governing federal contracts. From information on the types of contracts used in government to ways to interpret those contracts, the book covers the basics that every government manager needs to know. Information on complying with ethics requirements in general, and in the solicitation process and contract administration in particular, is especially pertinent. The author also explains the government manager’s liability both to the government and to the public. This book covers all the aspects of contract law that every government manager should know to be both effective and in compliance.

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Book SynopsisGo Beyond the FAR! The guidance contained in the almost 2000 pages of the Federal Acquisition Regulation and the various agency supplements are just a part of the resources government acquisition professionals need to do their jobs effectively. Accessing and understanding case law is equally important to a thorough understanding of government contracting. Legal decisions explain the Government Accountability Office’s and the courts’ views on how procurement statutes and regulations apply in a wide range of situations. Case law also gives potential bid protesters and agencies a way to gauge the likely outcome of a protest. Until now, it has been difficult to find and understand the legal decisions that could be relevant to a particular situation. Key Case Law Rules for Government Contract Formation changes that by organizing and explaining the most important protest grounds in a readily accessible and comprehensible way. With an emphasis on more recent cases, the book is organized around the key protest grounds, such as pricing issues, allegations that the government wrongfully prevented competition, or improper sealed-bidding procedures. Bridging the gap of understanding between the legal and the contracting communities, this book is a much-needed addition to the essential resources for acquisition professionals.

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Book SynopsisUse past performance to win contracts and deliver results at the lowest risk and cost! The federal government has focused on past performance to rank bidders for almost two decades, yet both the collection and use of past performance information remain disjointed, siloed, and not fully understood in government or industry. Nonetheless, contractors’ livelihoods depend on how the government collects and uses their past performance information. Winning with Past Performance: Strategies for Industry and Government aims to enhance awareness and understanding of past performance processes as well as to promote smart business practices on both the buyer and seller sides of the equation. The authors examine all aspects of past performance, including using feedback to improve performance, the government’s evolving use of past performance, and the future of past performance as an evaluation tool. Winning with Past Performance brings it all together on the subject of past performance and is a ready reference for buyers, sellers, policymakers, contracting professionals, and service providers.

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Book SynopsisHow strong was the American economy going into the present crisis? How strong will it be a year from now? How about five years from now? Investors and citizens around the world realize, as never before, that we were misled—lied to—about the stability of our financial system. But what now?John R. Talbott''s ingenious new book, The 86 Biggest Lies on Wall Street, exposes the lies and then exposes us to the truth of what it will take to rebuild our economy. As a former investment banker at Goldman Sachs, Talbott knows firsthand how the financial system operates and what it will take to fix it. As the oracle who predicted the housing crisis in his 2003 book, The Coming Crash in the Housing Market, warned of a global banking crisis in his 2006 book, Sell Now, and called the election for Obama when the senator from Illinois was still the underdog in Obamanomics, Talbott'' s revelations about how the Street and the economy really work are as clear-eyed and undeniable as his predictions and recommendations for our economic future are tough, sensible and exciting. We may ignore them at our own peril.What will people be talking about in years to come? To find out, read John Talbott now.

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Book SynopsisDoes Alaska's reliance on oil and gas mean that it inevitably will be controlled by corporate energy interests? Or can the state use its vast resource holdings to manage a more symmetrical partnership? ""The Political Economy of Oil in Alaska"" investigates the complex relationship Alaska has with its most precious commodity.Offering a new perspective on the challenges of oil-dependent development, the authors explore the dynamic balance between the power of a subnational government - as the owner of resources, possessor of fiscal authority, and regulator of safety and environmental conditions - and the ability of Big Oil to develop energy resources, affect the state economy, and influence state policies. The result is a comprehensive study of an often contentious alliance.It investigates the complex relationship Alaska has with its most precious commodity - oil - and with the corporations that bring that oil to market.Trade ReviewThis well-documented volume is necessary reading for anyone interested in the politics of oil, regardless of geographical region. - Carl Shepro, University of Alaska, AnchorageTable of ContentsIntroduction.; A Brief History of Oil in Alaska.; Campaigns, Elections, and the Influence of Oil.; Petroleum Revenues and Tax Policy.; Oil Supply, Budgets, and Expenditures.; Economic Development and State Ownership of Oil and Gas.; Managing the Wealth.; Protecting the Environment.; Conclusions.

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Book SynopsisAs heard on NPR's Fresh Air "This empowering light into a brighter future is a narrative you won’t want to miss." – Ralph Nader "Collins not only talks the talk but walks the walk...this is a worthwhile book to read, digest, and share" – Publishers Weekly An essential piece of reading for anyone concerned by the increasing wealth inequality–made worse by the global pandemic and political partisanship The growing wealth inequality continues to dominate headlines. The divide between the haves and have nots in America is increasingly political and tensions are rising. On one side, the wealthy wield power and advantage, keeping the system operating in their favor―all while retreating into enclaves that separate them further and further from the poor and working class. On the other side, those who find it increasingly difficult to keep up or get ahead are desperate and frustrated ―waging a rhetorical war against the rich and letting anger and resentment keep us from seeing new potential solutions. But can we suspend both class wars long enough to consider a new way forward? Is it really good for anyone that most of society’s wealth is pooling at the very top of the wealth ladder? Does anyone, including the one percent, really want to live in a society plagued by economic apartheid? It is time to think differently, says longtime inequality expert and activist Chuck Collins. Born into the one percent, Collins gave away his inheritance at 26 and spent the next three decades mobilizing against inequality. He uses his perspective from both sides of the divide to deliver a new narrative. Collins calls for a ceasefire and invites the wealthy to come back home, investing themselves and their wealth in struggling communities. And he asks the non-wealthy to build alliances with the one percent and others at the top of the wealth ladder. Stories told along the way explore the roots of advantage, show how taxpayers subsidize the wealthy, and reveal how charity, used incorrectly, can actually reinforce extreme inequality. Readers meet pioneers who are crossing the divide to work together in new ways, including residents in the author’s own Boston-area neighborhood who have launched some of the most interesting community transition efforts in the nation. In the end, Collins’s national and local solutions not only challenge inequality but also respond to climate change and offer an unexpected, fresh take on one of our most intransigent problems. Trade ReviewChoice Reviews- "Drawing on both engaging personal stories and economic research, Collins (Institute for Policy Studies) portrays an 'economic apartheid' of growing inequality of wealth and opportunity in the US, and urges citizens, especially the wealthiest, to recommit to the broader community to address it. Collins describes 'an empathetic barrier to change' that leads rich Americans to deride the industriousness of the less affluent. Raised in a “one percent” family, Collins understands how the wealthy are cut off from the wider society as their experiences lead them to adopt false myths of self-reliance and meritocracy. These views overlook the roles community and equity play in securing prosperity and well-being for rich and poor Americans. The overvaluing of self-reliance obscures the advantages of family wealth as well as the role of government programs in providing gains for the white middle class (in particular, home ownership) over other groups. Collins calls for empathy and solidarity among the rich, the affluent, and the poor to address inequality and environmental degradation. The book lists ways for the wealthy to connect to the larger society and support policies to bring about an equitable and sustainable future. Summing Up: Recommended. All readership levels."Booklist- "As the great-grandson of Oscar Meyer, Collins grew up in a wealthy and advantaged family. He considers himself part of the privileged 1 percent, “born on third base,” with only a short hop to make it to home plate. But Collins believes it’s time for our society to come to a different home, one where inequality is addressed in a new way, where the economy can be made more inclusive, and where the 1 percent can engage with the other 99 to become partners in transforming the future. Collins (99 to 1: How Inequality Is Wrecking the World and What We Can Do about It, 2012) once again presents a convincing and deeply thought-provoking argument in favor of not just the need for societal change but the importance of individual action in making change happen. Written in a well-crafted, conversational style, Collins’ latest is a gentle yet clear reminder to readers that real change starts by looking outside ourselves and making even the smallest connection with others.”“I have never read a story remotely like the one Chuck Collins has to tell. Born to the one percent, in circumstances few of us can imagine, he grew an outsized conscience and gave up his inherited wealth for a life of fighting the vicious inequality that is destroying our country. Somewhere along the way, he came to understand that the rich can be part of the solution instead of the problem and started organizing them to join in the struggle for a fair economy. The result is an electrifying challenge to the affluent as well as the one percent. ‘Come out of your gated communities and gated hearts,’ he writes, because outside lies the warmth of human solidarity.”--Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed“Chuck Collins has already organized the rich against their own immediate economic interest. He and his colleagues at the Institute for Policy Studies were instrumental in blocking the Republican repeal of the federal estate tax for the wealthy. So when he writes in Born on Third Base about all the good that can come from the enlightened rich pressing for justice, not just charity, he speaks from experience as both an organizer and a former affluent heir. Partly autobiographical, this empowering light into a brighter future is a narrative you won’t want to miss. Chuck Collins walks the talk and can motivate, if anyone is able to, the super rich to fund systemic drives for change.”--Ralph Nader, consumer advocate, author, and lawyer“A call to action for America's wealthy and a warning shot across the bows of their yachts if they fail to act, Born on Third Base offers a clear and compelling case for why the privileged and powerful must act to reverse widening inequality of income, wealth, and political power in America.”--Robert B. Reich, former US Secretary of Labor; author of Saving CapitalismPublishers Weekly- "Collins (99 to 1), born to great privilege, takes a thoughtful, well-written, and carefully researched approach to solving the extreme imbalance in wealth distribution, directed toward one- and 99-percenters alike. Refreshingly, Collins not only talks the talk but walks the walk: at age 26 he gave up his $500,000 trust fund and dedicated his life to ending inequality. The book's first half outlines the problems of uneven wealth distribution, which have been made even more evident by the 2008 economic downturn. This part includes a section addressing racial issues in the U.S. and making the case for federal reparations for slavery. What Collins does even better than describing the challenge is, in the book's second half, outlining significant and specific solutions. He includes 10 elements of a program for the wealthiest 1% to follow, imploring readers to connect with both 'people around us' and 'people who are completely different.' He makes an appeal for 'humanity and empathy' at the book's very beginning, shows how he and others have worked to embody it, and reinforces the importance of this approach at the conclusion. Wherever readers fall on the economic scale, this is a worthwhile book to read, digest, and share."“The American dream assures us that, if you work hard and play by the rules, you’ll succeed. But the facts tell a different story: Everyone knows the system is rigged. In these trickle-down times, income inequality threatens to pit the 99 percent against the 1 percent in violent revolution—and, really, who can blame them? My fellow plutocrat Chuck Collins gets it. Born on Third Base explodes the myth of the self-made man, but it also celebrates true achievement in the classic American sense. This isn’t some self-hating rich guy; Collins has thought seriously about what it means to be a citizen, and to be a patriot. He makes the case that we all do better when we all do better, and he does it with compassion and humor. This book would give Ayn Rand nightmares.”--Nick Hanauer, entrepreneur; venture capitalist; coauthor of The True Patriot and The Gardens of Democracy“Chuck Collins may have been born on third base, but he hits a grand slam with this powerful call to even the richest Americans to join their fellow citizens in challenging the obscene wealth gap that characterizes America today. He hammers all the curve balls thrown to justify inequality, writes eloquently but humbly of his experiences, and lays out a winning lineup of ways to bring Americans across class lines together for economic justice.”--John de Graaf, coauthor of Affluenza and What’s the Economy for, Anyway?“Chuck Collins does the soul-searching, fundamental work of reminding us all that wealth inequality and injustice make everyone’s life worse, including those of us who are supposedly better off. No matter what your class background, Collins’s work is an insight into and inspiring call to action for why we all need to be two feet into the fight for a more just world –one that is based on shared prosperity and community, not individualized notions of success. People and the planet literally depend on it.”--Jessie Spector, executive director, Resource Generation “Sobering and inspiring, Chuck Collins has written a Declaration of Interdependence. A must read for anyone on third base who has forgotten that they’re part of a team.”--Peter Buffett, copresident, NoVo Foundation; composer; author of Life is What You Make It“There are few tasks as urgent as a radical reorientation of the 1 percent, a radical re-engagement of ‘us’ with ‘them’—and a radical redeployment of the wealth created over the past century in order to address the problems of the next. Chuck Collins is our personal guide.”--Woody Tasch, founder, Slow Money Institute; author of Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money“This is the engaging story of a courageous rich white guy who gave it all away, journeyed to the dark heart of inequality and deprivation in America, and became a leading thinker and activist for something much better for all of us, including the rich. Collins doesn’t disappoint. He is the real deal.”--James Gustave Speth, author of America the Possible and Angels by the River“No one explains inequality better than Chuck Collins, and no one walks his talk with more integrity. All Americans—rich, poor, and in the shrinking middle—will benefit from his insights and be inspired by his example.”--Peter Barnes, cofounder, CREDO Mobile; author of With Liberty and Dividends For All

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Book SynopsisHow we view the creation of wealth and individual success shapes our choices on taxes, public investments in schools and vital infrastructure, regulations, the legitimacy of extravagant CEO pay, and more. America canât more forward if we donât have a clear understanding of how wealth is actually produced.This book challenges the by-bootstraps-alone narrative beloved by anti-government conservatives to offer a more holistic view of the success of Americaâs business leaders and entrepreneurs. While acknowledging the importance of hard work, creativity, and leadership, it highlights several crucial, often unrecognized factors, with a particular emphasis on the ways government and society support and assists individuals: public education, research and development grants, social services, roads and highways, laws and regulations that establish a stable business environment, and many more. Miller and Lapham explore the historic roots of the self-made myth and offer profiles of business leaders who, in their own words, identify the kinds of government support and assistance that were crucial to their success. They also disprove the arguments of individuals like Donald Trump who have tried to perpetuate their own self-made myths of their success.

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Book SynopsisYES! Magazine has been at the forefront of reporting on the Occupy Wall Street/99% movement that has spread all over the U.S. and around the world. Now the editors of YES! have pulled together outstanding reports and analyses of the who, what, when, where, why, and how of this movement â especially the ways it âœchanges everythingâ in creating a world that works for the 99% and not just the top 1%.Occupy Wall Street protests have spread around the world, with a common slogan of âœWe are the 99%.â But there is a great deal of confusion and misperception about this movement. This book clarifies the who, what, when, where, why, and how of this movement. It provides profound insight into the movementâs power, messages, significance, methods, and impact. The editors of YES! Magazine bring together voices from inside and outside the protests to show how the meaning and impact of this movement are much bigger and more far-reaching than is being reported.The central thesis of this book is âœThis Changes Everything.â The authors show how this movement changes (1) how citizens view themselves, (2) what citizens see is really going on in the world, (3) what is possible in creating a world that works for the many (the âœ99%â) and not just the few (the âœ1%â), and (4) how citizens can bring about changes they seek in their communities, nations, and the world.

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Book SynopsisRussia today is in many ways different from the country portrayed a decade ago in the first edition of Understanding Contemporary Russia. With an upsurge of both national pride - despite a struggling economy - and civil society activism, with a palpable tension between the support for democratic values and the intense desire for political stability, with an increased role in world politics that puts Putin in the headlines almost daily, contradictions and complexities abound. These contradictions, complexities, and much more are captured in this new edition. The authors provide sophisticated yet accessible introductions to the country’s history, domestic politics, economy, foreign policy, society, and culture. The result is a well-grounded exploration of the realities of contemporary Russia.Trade ReviewPraise for the previous edition:“A solid and insightful introduction to Russia...thoughtful and balanced...[It is] a valuable addition to Russian studies.” —The Russian Review“A great background reader for those looking for a quick and fairly complete evaluation of the many sides of Russia.” —ChoiceTable of ContentsIntroduction M.L. Bressle Russia: A Geographic Preface D.J.B. Shaw The Historical Context S.G. Marks Politics M.L. Bressler The Economy W. Pyle International Relations A.C. Lynch Ethnicity and Identity K.E. Graney Population, Health, and Migration T. Heleniak The Environment and Environmental Movement L.A. Henry Women in a Changing Context S.L. Henderson Religion O. Kazmina Literature and Film A. Barker Trends and Prospects M.L. Bressler

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Book SynopsisWith a new epilogue about Bill Gates’s global agenda and how we can resist the billionaires’ war on life “This is what globalization looks like: Opportunism. Exploitation. Further centralization of power. Further disempowerment of ordinary people. . . . Vandana Shiva is an expert whose analysis has helped us understand this situation much more deeply.”—Russell Brand Widespread poverty, social unrest, and economic polarization have become our lived reality as the top 1% of the world’s seven-billion-plus population pushes the planet―and all its people―to the social and ecological brink. In Oneness vs. the 1%, Vandana Shiva takes on the billionaire dictators of Gates, Buffet, and Mark Zuckerberg, as well as other modern empires like Big Tech, Big Pharma, and Big Ag, whose blindness to the rights of people, and to the destructive impact of their construct of linear progress, have wrought havoc across the world. Their single-minded pursuit of profit has undemocratically enforced uniformity and monocultures, division and separation, monopolies and external control―over finance, food, energy, information, healthcare, and even relationships. Basing her analysis on explosive facts, Shiva exposes the 1%’s model of philanthrocapitalism, which is about deploying unaccountable money to bypass democratic structures, derail diversity, and impose totalitarian ideas based on One Science, One Agriculture, and One History. Instead, Shiva calls for the resurgence of: Real knowledge Real intelligence Real wealth Real work Real well-being With these core goals, people can reclaim their right to: Live Free. Think Free. Breathe Free. Eat Free.Trade Review“All of us who care about the future of Planet Earth must be grateful to Vandana Shiva. Her voice is powerful, and she is not afraid to tackle those corporate giants that are polluting, degrading and ultimately destroying the natural world.”—Jane Goodall, UN Messenger of Peace“Her fierce intellect and her disarmingly friendly, accessible manner have made her a valuable advocate for people all over the developing world.”—Ms. magazine“A rock star in the worldwide battle against genetically modified seeds.”—Bill Moyers“Shiva is a burst of creative energy, an intellectual power.”—The Progressive“One of the world’s most prominent radical scientists.”—The Guardian

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Book SynopsisA remarkable collection of poetic voices from contemporary Greece, Austerity Measures is a one-of-a-kind window into the creative energy that has arisen from the country's decade of crisis and a glimpse into what it is like to be Greek today.The 2008 debt crisis shook Greece to the core and went on to shake the world. More recently, Greece has become one of the main channels into Europe for refugees from poverty and war. Greece stands at the center of today’s most intractable conflicts, and this situation has led to a truly extraordinary efflorescence of innovative and powerfully moving Greek poetry. Karen Van Dyck’s wide-ranging bilingual anthology—which covers the whole contemporary Greek poetry scene, from literary poets to poets of the spoken word to poets online, and more—offers an unequaled sampling of some of the richest and most exciting poetry of our time.This bilingual edition includes the original Greek versions of each poem.

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Book SynopsisExploring the genesis of neoliberalism, and the political and economic circumstances of its deployment, Pierre Dardot and Christian Laval dispel numerous common misconceptions. Neoliberalism is neither a return to classical liberalism nor the restoration of "pure" capitalism. To misinterpret neoliberalism is to fail to understand what is new about it: far from viewing the market as a natural given that limits state action, neoliberalism seeks to construct the market and make the firm a model for governments. Only once this is grasped will its opponents be able to meet the unprecedented political and intellectual challenge it poses.Trade ReviewThe New Way of the World is the best modern realization of Foucault's pioneering approach to the history of neoliberalism. It wonderfully explores the European roots and branches of the neoliberal thought collective over the twentieth century, and warns that unthinking misrepresentations of its political project as espousing 'laissez-faire' has had the effect of allowing the Left to submit to its siren song. -- Philip MirowskiTo understand these debates [on neoliberalism], the book by Christian Laval and Pierre Dardot on the 'neoliberal society' offers us analytical keys. This monument of scholarship draws on the history of ideas, philosophy and sociology. * Le Monde *Extremely scholarly, this book is an insistent invitation to push theoretical and social critique of the present order beyond the standard analyses. * Le Monde diplomatique *

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Book SynopsisThrough economics, our politicians have the power to transform people's lives for better or worse. Think Deng Xiaoping who lifted millions out of poverty by opening up China; Franklin D Roosevelt whose 'New Deal' helped the USA break free of the Great Depression. Or Peron and his successors in Argentina who brought the country to the brink of ruin.In this magisterial history, economist and politician Vince Cable examines the legacy of 16 world leaders who transformed their countries' economic fortunes and who also challenged economic convention. From Thatcher to Trump, from Lenin to Bismarck, Money and Power provides a whole new perspective on the science of government. Examining the fascinating interplay of economics and politics, this is a compelling journey through some of the most significant people and events of the last 300 years.Trade ReviewVince Cable brings economics to life in this thrilling history, revealing how 16 leading politicians over the last 250 years have used it in their own totally different ways to make the world anew. * Sir Anthony Seldon, author of May at 10 *A wonderful journey through the economic ideas that have shaped leading politicians throughout history. * Dame Minouche Shafik, Director of LSE *Impressive... The essay on Robert Peel lucidly explains his pioneering influence on the politics of trade. Similarly, thechapter on Juan Peron is an excellent summary of his political career as prime minister and the Peronist model of government and economics. * Irish Times *From Hamilton and Lenin to Abe and Trump, these brilliant essays are true to the dictum that 'people don't believe in ideas, they believe in people who believe in ideas'. This is a book which will change the way you think about politics and the leaders and ideas which have driven it forward in the last three centuries. * Lord Andrew Adonis *Vince Cable brings out with spectacular clarity how important and radical leaders end up combining economic theory, political ideology and practical administration. This book needs to be read by anyone who is interested in how the world's economies are really run. * Sir Oliver Letwin *Money and Power provides a masterly analysis of how economic policy has determined the success and failure of political leaders through the ages. * Vicky Pryce, former Joint Head of the UK Government Economic Service *As a former policymaker, Cable has an eye for the sort of political detail that brings a historical episode to life. It's an accessible read that helps us see the long-standing links between money and power all over the world. * Linda Yueh, author of The Great Economists: How Their Ideas Can Help Us Today *Cable shows the influence of leaders in the course of history and the influence of economic ideas on their thoughts and actions. A brilliant project and splendidly delivered. * Professor Lord Nicholas Stern, LSE *A fast-paced, highly readable account of political leaders who transformed their countries - for better or worse - through the economic ideologies of their time. As an economist turned politician, Vince Cable is uniquely placed to provide a critical, but fair judgment of those who have shaped today's major economies. * Dame DeAnne Julius, senior adviser, Chatham House *A lucid, erudite analysis of the global economy, and Britain's place in it. * Observer on After the Storm *A remarkably rounded work... Cable has produced a book that makes a serious and relevant contribution to the continuing debate about banking, infrastructure, housing, China, executive pay, short-termism and many of the other topics which continue to top the business and political agenda. * Evening Standard on After the Storm *The undisputed heavyweight champion of the credit crunch in parliament'. * Robert Peston *Table of Contents0: Introduction: Politicians and the Politics of Economics 1: Hamilton: The Economic Founding Father 2: Peel: Free Trade 3: Bismarck: The Economics of 'Iron and Blood' 4: Lenin: From War Communism to State Capitalism 5: Roosevelt: The Keynesian Revolution Without Keynes 6: Erhard: The Social Market and Ordoliberalism 7: Erlander: The Social Democratic Model Made Real 8: Perón: Peronism and Economic Populism 9: Park: The Development State and Hypergrowth 10: Lee: The Eclectic Economics of Lee Kuan Yew 11: Thatcher: Thatcherism and Its Cousin, Reaganomics 12: Deng: China's Economic Architect 13: Manmohan Singh: The Quiet Reformer 14: Balcerowicz: Big Bang Theory and Practice 15: Abe: Japan Pioneers Abenomics 16: Trump: Trumponomics, Economic Nationalism and Pluto-populism 17: Conclusion: Sixteen Politicians: Sixteen Varieties of Economics

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Book SynopsisAn FT SUMMER READ 2020 The forces of globalization have transformed the world economically, but in the West politics is becoming increasingly fractured as living standards stagnate for all but the very wealthy. As a result, alienation and nationalism are on the rise. China, in the meantime, has become the most powerful economy in the world from the same forces of globalization which have imprisoned the west. Here, Grzegorz W. Kolodko parses the economic system in China and brings his uniquely clear and far sighted analysis to bear on the global economy. Through a qualitative and extensive quantitative economic analysis of the global economy, and it's tilt towards Asia, Kolodko offers prescriptions on how the west can learn from China’s approach, and make globalization work for citizens once more. An essential book for scholars and students of political economy, from one of the West's most authoritative scholars and practitioners. Translated by Joanna LuczakTrade ReviewGrzegorz Kolodko has written a concise, erudite, balanced and perceptive book on the global implications of China's unstoppable rise. We are moving, inescapably, into a multi-polar and multi-cultural world. * Martin Wolf, Associate Editor and Chief Economics Commentator, Financial Times *A thought-provoking book on the consequences of the rise of China for the world economy. A plethora of interesting questions are proposed and investigated. In terms of current economic development, China and Poland are the most interesting, and the book has much to say about them. Given this, China and the Future of Globalization: The Political Economy of China's Rise is a must-read for any student of development. * Professor Edward C. Prescott, Nobel Prize Laureate in Economic Sciences *A fine reflection on China's rise, offered with neither fear nor favor but in the pragmatic spirit that is Professor Kolodko's stock-in-trade. * James K. Galbraith, The University of Texas at Austin *Greg Kolodko analyzes in this insightful book the economic, political and social implications of China’s rejuvenation… The book is essential reading on a subject of the highest importance in the early 21st century. -- Justin Yifu Lin, Dean, Institute of New Structural Economics, Peking University, Former Chief Economist, the World BankTable of ContentsList of diagrams List of maps List of tables Initial reflections Chapter One: Economy and security 1. Cold War Two 2. Cascade of threats 3. Technology and politics Chapter Two: The century of Asia with China leading the way? 1. A country in the middle of Asia 2. New Silk Road instead of exporting revolution 3. Nobody likes a hard landing Chapter Three: People and goods in the changing world 1. Between a demographic explosion and a population deficit 2. How long, how fast? 3. Where is the East, where is the West? 4. Myth of the free market being perfect Chapter Four: Socialism, capitalism or Chinism? 1. Economy – society – state 2. In search of equilibrium 3. Socialism with Chinese characteristics or corrupt crony capitalism? 4. Whither China and what business is it to others 5. Tertium datur Chapter Five: Recipe for crisis 1. At the expense of many for the benefit of few 2. Legally but immorally Chapter Six: What do the Chinese ask about? 1. Right questions at the right time 2. What students want to know 3. Chinese panoply of questions Chapter Seven: New pragmatism with Chinese characteristics 1. Vision rather than illusions 2. 16+1 initiative 3. China coming to our rescue? Final reflections References Index

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Book SynopsisIn this landmark book, the author of The New Enclosure provides a forensic examination and sweeping critique of early-twenty-first-century capitalism. Brett Christophers styles this as 'rentier capitalism', in which ownership of key types of scarce assets - such as land, intellectual property, natural resources, or digital platforms - is all-important and dominated by a few unfathomably wealthy companies and individuals: rentiers. If a small elite owns today's economy, everybody else foots the bill. Nowhere is this divergence starker, Christophers shows, than in the United Kingdom, where the prototypical ills of rentier capitalism - vast inequalities combined with entrenched economic stagnation - are on full display and have led the country inexorably to the precipice of Brexit. With profound lessons for other countries subject to rentier dominance, Christophers' examination of the UK case is indispensable to those wanting not just to understand this insidious economic phenomenon but to overcome it. Frequently invoked but never previously analysed and illuminated in all its depth and variety, rentier capitalism is here laid bare for the first time.Trade ReviewIn praise of The New Enclosure:With his carefully crafted and meticulously researched study, he has made an essential contribution to our understanding of politics and government in modern Britain. -- Adam Tooze * Financial Times *In praise of The New Enclosure:The biggest privatisation of all isn't housing, railways, or utilities, but the oldest source of oligarchic power-land. In this clear, readable, accessible and maddening book, Brett Christophers makes clear the massive mismanagement, waste, opacity and centralisation of wealth that has resulted. Necessary reading for anyone who wants to know where ruling class power comes from, and how to take it back. -- Owen HatherleyIn praise of The New Enclosure:If you're someone who's interested in Britain-and I mean Britain tout court: the whole 80,823 square miles of its physical existence-then this is a book you must read. -- Will Self * Guardian *In praise of The New Enclosure:Brett Christophers's The New Enclosure towers with empirical and argumentative force. Christophers dissects the process by which 1.6 million hectares, or 8 percent of Britain, ended up in private hands since the election of Margaret Thatcher. This is a stunning work of scholarship. It speaks to the history of capitalism and social inequality, cast as the undemocratic ownership of nature. -- Steven Stoll * Orion Magazine *In praise of The New Enclosure:British taxpayers have been robbed blind by the recent fire sale of 400 billion pounds of public land. Like Henry VIII's destruction of the monasteries, Thatcher's privatisation frenzy has led to the destruction of public assets unprecedented amongst leading economies, and to the enrichment of landowners and financiers. In this comprehensive and rigorously researched book, Brett Christophers opens up a field of study-public land-largely buried by academia, landowners and no doubt, by financiers. A must-read. -- Ann PettiforA seminal study * Guardian *Our economic present is supposed to be characterised by free markets, unleashed creative entrepreneurship, the control of knowledge, and globalisation of production. Yet as Brett Christophers shows in this incisive and vital study, the supposedly long-dead rentier is the characteristic capitalist of our age, not the entrepreneur of neoliberal theory. Thinking beyond the clichés, and the standard statistical summaries of the economy, he shows that instead of entrepreneurs there are exploiters of ownership and control who underinvest in the future. The new rentiers are everywhere, passively piling up the returns accruing from investments, from land, from housing, monopolistic utilities, consumer credit, and the control of platforms, natural resources and long-term contracts. -- David Edgerton, author of Rise and Fall of the British NationEmpirically rigorous and theoretically insightful, Rentier Capitalism is a fascinating contribution to the debate on the changing face of British capitalism. Christophers makes a clear and compelling case that the profits of some of the largest British corporations stem not from production itself, but from their ability to exploit their control over critical resources to extract economic rents.' -- Grace Blakeley, author of StolenEmpirically rich and theoretically astute, Rentier Capitalism offers a definitive account of a central feature of neoliberal capitalism: the resurgent power of unproductive assets. Spanning finance, housing, fossil fuels and the public sector out-sourcing racket, this will be a vital resource for anyone seeking to make sense of economic inequality and injustice in the UK and beyond. -- Will DaviesOur economic present is supposed to be characterised by free markets, unleashed creative entrepreneurship, the free production and flow of knowledge, and the frictionless mobility of capital and production. Yet as Brett Christophers shows in this incisive and vital study, the supposedly long-dead rentier is the characteristic capitalist of our age, not the entrepreneur of neoliberal theory. Thinking beyond the clichés, and the standard statistical summaries of the economy, he shows that instead of entrepreneurs there are exploiters of ownership and control who underinvest in the future. The new rentiers are everywhere, passively piling up the returns accruing from investments, from land, from housing, monopolistic utilities, consumer credit, and the control of platforms, natural resources and long-term contracts. -- David EdgertonIn this eye-opening, wide-ranging, and pedagogical book, Brett Christophers reveals the outsized role that rents play in today's economy-from natural resources to intellectual property, from land to finance, from infrastructure to digital platforms. This is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding modern-day capitalism. -- Gabriel Zucman coauthor of The Triumph of InjusticeBrett Christophers' comprehensive study of the dominance of rent will change how we think about inequality. Contemporary capitalism relies more on controlling something valuable than it does on making something valuable. Rentier Capitalism is a brilliant and indispensable book. -- Jodi DeanIf you want to understand the complexities of modern capitalism, there is no better place to start than Brett Christophers' ambitious new exploration of rentierism. Unique in examining this phenomenon across its multiple facets, Christophers' insightful analysis reveals the inner workings of rentier capitalism with grit and detail. This is essential reading for all serious students of political economy. -- Greta R. Krippner, University of MichiganAt last! For some years the great and the good have been muttering about the rentierisation of the economy, without really defining what they mean. What is rentier capitalism and what do we do about it? How did capitalism go from being all about "doing" to all about "having"?These are some of the most important questions we should be pondering in the coming years. And now, finally, we have a book that defines this crucial trend and provides a forensic analysis of it. An insightful, fascinating read. -- Ed Conway, Sky News Economics Editor, a Times columnist, and author of The SummitTo understand the inequalities of wealth and power that define contemporary capitalism, read this important book. Rentierism shapes every sphere of our shared lives, Christophers shows, from energy to real estate, aerospace to health care, and entertainment to Airbnb. Tracing the different way each sector is organized to compel payments to those who monopolize its key assets, the book explains how rent takes multiple forms. It is this variability that allows capitalism's extraordinary profits--and inequalities--to be generated at every juncture. -- Timothy MitchellWe are plagued by wealth and income inequality, declining productivity, falling investment, and polarized populations. But how are they related? Christophers answers that question, in my view definitively, by showing us how the economy we inhabit is a province of rents protected by power, in everything from finance and patents to carbon extraction and land ownership. Few books come along that fundamentally challenge the way you see the world. This is one of them. Christophers rewired my understanding of capitalism on a fundamental level. Piketty told us that the Trente Glorieuses were a stochastic blip, not a fundamental change. He saw that in the data. Christophers builds upon this insight a theory as to why that is that is both compelling and powerful - that the equilibrium state of capitalism is one of rent accumulation - and that such an equilibrium is a question of class power exercised through the state. -- Mark BlythAn essential read for anyone thinking about what UK governments might need to do differently as the pandemic upends the economy, and people's jobs, without doubt feeding an appetite for some significant change in the philosophy of public policy. -- Diane Coyle * The Enlightened Economist *An important and urgent contribution to our understanding of modern capitalism. -- Christine Berry * openDemocracy *A striking reminder of the way-in the UK economy, in this case-concentration of ownership has continued to increase in recent decades. -- Diane Coyle * Five Books, Best Economics Books of 2020 *Arguably one of this year's most important books. -- Will Hutton * Guardian *Rentier Capitalism is an autopsy report for a decomposing corpse. Christophers clinically dissects a corrupted body, before arriving at a probable cause of death. Of course, capitalism is still with us, but for those wanting to understand the system more, the better and sooner to end it, this book is essential reading. -- Glyn Robbins * Socialist Review *It's all crackling, shimmering stuff ... you'll start seeing rentiers everywhere, hearing them in every news bulletin, or envisioning how they all interlock like a lattice of money-pipes, situated at almost every choke point in supply, and all involved in massive anti-competitive behaviour. -- Mic Moroney * Irish Times *From North Sea oil to the railways to water and electricity, this is a damning book about what successful British firms actually do - bid for privatised contracts, charge large rental fees, and sit back and let the profits come in from poor-quality, monopolised services. -- Owen Hatherley * Tribune *Rentier Capitalism presents convincing evidence of the extent to which rent-seeking has become a central aspect of the British economy. -- Richard Goulding * Greater Manchester Housing Action *Masterful ... a rigorously researched and theoretically insightful account of how large areas of capitalism have changed from "doing" to having. -- Sean Byrne * Dublin Review of Books *

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