Political economy Books

Book SynopsisThroughout the Western world, governments and financial elites responded to the financial crisis of 2008 by trying to restore the conditions of business as usual, but the economic, social and human damage inflicted by the crisis has given rise to a reconsideration of the inevitability of unfettered capitalism as a fact of life. A number of economic practices and organizations emerged in Europe and the United States that embodied alternative values: the value of life over the value of money; the effectiveness of cooperation over cut-throat competition; the social responsibility of corporations and responsible regulation by governments over the short-term speculative strategies that brought the economy to the brink of catastrophe. This book examines the blossoming of innovative new experiments in organizing work and life that emerged in the wake of the financial crisis: cooperatives, barter networks, ethical banking, community currencies, shared time banks, solidarity networks, sharing of goods, non-monetary transactions, etc., experiments that paved the way for the emergence of a sharing economy in all domains of activity oriented toward the satisfaction of human needs. Other innovations included the creation of cryptographic virtual currencies, epitomized by bitcoin, which blended a libertarian, entrepreneurial spirit with information technology to provide an alternative to standard forms of currency. On the basis of a cross-cultural analysis of alternative economic practices, this book develops an important theoretical argument: that the economy, as a human practice, is shaped by culture, and that the diversity of cultures, as revealed in a time of crisis, implies the possibility of different economies depending on the values and power relations that define economic institutions. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars in sociology, economics and the social sciences generally, and to anyone who wishes to understand how our societies and economies are changing today.Trade Review"Manuel Castells and his colleagues have underscored a fundamental truth: that all economics are cultural forms. And just as the financial crisis of 2008 demonstrated the bankruptcy of neoliberal capitalism and the human suffering inflicted by it, so too it spawned countless experiments in alternative ways of organizing economic life based on cultures of sharing and solidarity, some of which are explored in this timely and pathbreaking volume. A must-read." Paul Mason, author of PostCapitalism: A Guide to Our Future"Fine collection of essays."Times Higher Education SupplementTable of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1 Economy Is Culture, Sarah Banet-Weiser and Manuel Castells Chapter 2 Economics Without Growth, Giorgos Kallis Chapter 3 Analysis of Worldwide Community Economies for Sustainable Local Development, Sviatlana Hlebik Chapter 4 Blockchain Dreams: Imagining Techno-economic Alternatives After Bitcoin, Lana Swartz Chapter 5 Consumer Financial Services in the US: Why Banks May Not Be the Answer, Lisa Servon Chapter 6 Commoning Against the Crisis, Angelos Varvarousis and Giorgos Kallis Chapter 7 Alternative Economic Practices in Barcelona: Surviving the Crisis, Reinventing Life, Manuel Castells and Sviatlana Hlebik Chapter 8 Imagining and Making Alternative Futures: Slow Cities as Sites for Anticipation and Trust, Sarah Pink and Kirsten Seale Conclusion, Manuel Castells

Read more less

Book SynopsisAmartya Sen is one of the world’s best-known voices for the poor, the destitute and the downtrodden and an inspiration for policy makers and activists across the globe. He has also contributed almost without peer to the study of economics, philosophy and politics, transforming social choice theory, development economics, ethics, political philosophy and Indian political economy, to list but a few. This book offers a much-needed introduction to Amartya Sen’s extraordinary variety of ideas. Lawrence Hamilton provides an excellent, accessible guide to the full range of Sen’s writings, contextualizing his ideas and summarizing the associated debates. In elegant prose, Hamilton reconstructs Sen’s critiques of the major philosophies of his time, assesses his now famous concern for capabilities as an alternative for thinking about poverty, inequality, gender discrimination, development, democracy and justice, and unearths some overlooked gems. Throughout, these major theoretical and philosophical achievements are subjected to rigorous scrutiny. Amartya Sen is a major work on one of the most influential economists and philosophers of the last couple of centuries. It will be invaluable to students and scholars across the humanities and social sciences and an excellent guide for policy makers, legislators and global activists.Trade Review‘Amartya Sen’s monumental work has created new foundations for research, policy and action in a wide range of fields. This concise, lucid and lively book will be of immense value to anyone interested in Sen’s essential ideas.’Jean Drèze, Delhi School of Economics ‘This is a real tour de force examination of key ideas championed by Amartya Sen. Well written and insightful, it’s a perfect introduction to one of the world’s greatest minds.’Thom Brooks, Professor of Law and Government and Dean of Durham Law School, Durham UniversityTable of ContentsContents Acknowledgements Preface Key Texts Introduction Chapter 1: Choice Chapter 2: Capability Chapter 3: Freedom Chapter 4: Justice Chapter 5: Democracy Conclusion Further Reading Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisAmartya Sen is one of the world’s best-known voices for the poor, the destitute and the downtrodden and an inspiration for policy makers and activists across the globe. He has also contributed almost without peer to the study of economics, philosophy and politics, transforming social choice theory, development economics, ethics, political philosophy and Indian political economy, to list but a few. This book offers a much-needed introduction to Amartya Sen’s extraordinary variety of ideas. Lawrence Hamilton provides an excellent, accessible guide to the full range of Sen’s writings, contextualizing his ideas and summarizing the associated debates. In elegant prose, Hamilton reconstructs Sen’s critiques of the major philosophies of his time, assesses his now famous concern for capabilities as an alternative for thinking about poverty, inequality, gender discrimination, development, democracy and justice, and unearths some overlooked gems. Throughout, these major theoretical and philosophical achievements are subjected to rigorous scrutiny. Amartya Sen is a major work on one of the most influential economists and philosophers of the last couple of centuries. It will be invaluable to students and scholars across the humanities and social sciences and an excellent guide for policy makers, legislators and global activists.Trade Review‘Amartya Sen’s monumental work has created new foundations for research, policy and action in a wide range of fields. This concise, lucid and lively book will be of immense value to anyone interested in Sen’s essential ideas.’Jean Drèze, Delhi School of Economics ‘This is a real tour de force examination of key ideas championed by Amartya Sen. Well written and insightful, it’s a perfect introduction to one of the world’s greatest minds.’Thom Brooks, Professor of Law and Government and Dean of Durham Law School, Durham UniversityTable of ContentsContents Acknowledgements Preface Key Texts Introduction Chapter 1: Choice Chapter 2: Capability Chapter 3: Freedom Chapter 4: Justice Chapter 5: Democracy Conclusion Further Reading Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisMarx's critique of political economy is vital for understanding the crisis of contemporary capitalism. Yet the nature of its relevance and some of its key tenets remain poorly understood. This bold intervention brings together the work of leading Marx scholars Slavoj Žižek, Frank Ruda and Agon Hamza, to offer a fresh, radical reinterpretation of Marxism that explains the failures of neoliberalism and lays the foundations for a new emancipatory politics. Avoiding trite comparisons between Marx's worldview and our current political scene, the authors show that the current relevance and value of Marx's thought can better be explained by placing his key ideas in dialogue with those that have attempted to replace them. Reading Marx through Hegel and Lacan, particle physics, and modern political trends, the authors provide new ways to explain the crisis in contemporary capitalism and resist fundamentalism in all its forms. Reading Marx will find a wide audience amongst activists and scholars.Trade Review“Reading Marx is not only a call for seeing Marx’s renewed importance today; it also reveals the potency of the intersection of philosophy and Marx. It presents revelations on every page that point toward how we might think a philosophical Marxism.”Todd McGowan, University of Vermont “The authors of this timely book reverse the conventional approach of understanding Marx by critiquing Hegel; they start from Marx and then turn to Hegel. In this way they open up a whole new intellectual horizon.”Kojin Karatani, Columbia University ‘fascinating’ Boston Review Table of Contents Acknowledgments Introduction: Reading Marx: Unexpected Reunions Chapter 1: Marx Reads Object-Oriented-Ontology Chapter 2: Marx in the Cave Chapter 3: Imprinting Negativity: Hegel Reads Marx To Resume (and not Conclude) Notes Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisMarx's critique of political economy is vital for understanding the crisis of contemporary capitalism. Yet the nature of its relevance and some of its key tenets remain poorly understood. This bold intervention brings together the work of leading Marx scholars Slavoj Žižek, Frank Ruda and Agon Hamza, to offer a fresh, radical reinterpretation of Marxism that explains the failures of neoliberalism and lays the foundations for a new emancipatory politics. Avoiding trite comparisons between Marx's worldview and our current political scene, the authors show that the current relevance and value of Marx's thought can better be explained by placing his key ideas in dialogue with those that have attempted to replace them. Reading Marx through Hegel and Lacan, particle physics, and modern political trends, the authors provide new ways to explain the crisis in contemporary capitalism and resist fundamentalism in all its forms. Reading Marx will find a wide audience amongst activists and scholars.Trade Review“Reading Marx is not only a call for seeing Marx’s renewed importance today; it also reveals the potency of the intersection of philosophy and Marx. It presents revelations on every page that point toward how we might think a philosophical Marxism.” Todd McGowan, University of Vermont “The authors of this timely book reverse the conventional approach of understanding Marx by critiquing Hegel; they start from Marx and then turn to Hegel. In this way they open up a whole new intellectual horizon.” Kojin Karatani, Columbia University "fascinating"Boston ReviewTable of Contents Acknowledgments Introduction: Reading Marx: Unexpected Reunions Chapter 1: Marx Reads Object-Oriented-Ontology Chapter 2: Marx in the Cave Chapter 3: Imprinting Negativity: Hegel Reads Marx To Resume (and not Conclude) Notes Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisWe are living in a time of extreme inequality: America’s three richest people now own as much wealth as the bottom half of the population. Although most accept that this is grotesque, many politicians accept it as irreversible. In this book, leading US researcher and activist Chuck Collins succinctly diagnoses the drivers of rampant inequality, arguing that such disparities have their roots in 40 years of the powerful rigging the system in their favor. He proposes a far-reaching policy agenda, analyzes the barriers to progress, and shows how transformative local campaigns can become a national movement for change. This book is a powerful analysis of how the plutocracy sold us a toxic lie, and what we can do to reverse inequality.Trade Review“This powerful new book explains the government policies that have created extreme inequality over the past 40 years or so, and what the American people can do to reverse it – if they decide they want to.” Morris Pearl, Patriotic Millionaires“If you care about building a just and equitable society, this book is for you. Chuck Collins offers savvy remedies, interventions, and strategies so that ordinary Americans can fight back, reverse inequality, and restore democracy.” Katrina vanden Heuvel, The NationTable of Contents Contents Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1: Why Does Inequality Matter? (And Why is It Happening?) Chapter 2: What are the barriers to change? Chapter 3: Changing the Rules: Raising Floors, Opening Doors Chapter 4: Reducing the Concentration of Wealth Chapter 5: Campaigns to Change the Future Conclusion Notes

Read more less

Book SynopsisAdvocated (and attacked) by commentators across the political spectrum, paying every citizen a basic income regardless of their circumstances sounds utopian. However, as our economies are transformed and welfare states feel the strain, it has become a hotly debated issue. In this compelling book, Louise Haagh, one of the world’s leading experts on basic income, argues that Universal Basic Income is essential to freedom, human development and democracy in the twenty-first century. She shows that, far from being a silver bullet that will transform or replace capitalism, or a sticking plaster that will extend it, it is a crucial element in a much broader task of constructing a democratic society that will promote social equality and humanist justice. She uses her unrivalled knowledge of the existing research to unearth key issues in design and implementation in a range of different contexts across the globe, highlighting the potential and pitfalls at a time of crisis in governing and public austerity. This book will be essential reading for anyone who wants to get beyond the hype and properly understand one of the most important issues facing politics, economics and social policy today.Trade Review‘An outstanding book which makes a major contribution to the debate on basic income, highlighting its potential to supplement rather than replace the welfare state and to make economic life more democratic.’Andrew Gamble, University of SheffieldTable of ContentsChapter 1 Basic Income in TimeChapter 2 Human Development FreedomChapter 3 Democratic DevelopmentConclusionFor full extended appendices, please click here: http://politybooks.com/haagh-ubi-appendices/

Read more less

Book SynopsisAdvocated (and attacked) by commentators across the political spectrum, paying every citizen a basic income regardless of their circumstances sounds utopian. However, as our economies are transformed and welfare states feel the strain, it has become a hotly debated issue. In this compelling book, Louise Haagh, one of the world’s leading experts on basic income, argues that Universal Basic Income is essential to freedom, human development and democracy in the twenty-first century. She shows that, far from being a silver bullet that will transform or replace capitalism, or a sticking plaster that will extend it, it is a crucial element in a much broader task of constructing a democratic society that will promote social equality and humanist justice. She uses her unrivalled knowledge of the existing research to unearth key issues in design and implementation in a range of different contexts across the globe, highlighting the potential and pitfalls at a time of crisis in governing and public austerity. This book will be essential reading for anyone who wants to get beyond the hype and properly understand one of the most important issues facing politics, economics and social policy today.Trade Review‘An outstanding book which makes a major contribution to the debate on basic income, highlighting its potential to supplement rather than replace the welfare state and to make economic life more democratic.’Andrew Gamble, University of SheffieldTable of ContentsChapter 1 Basic Income in TimeChapter 2 Human Development FreedomChapter 3 Democratic DevelopmentConclusionFor full extended appendices, please click here: http://politybooks.com/haagh-ubi-appendices/

Read more less

Book SynopsisThroughout the Western world, a whole generation is being priced out of the housing market. For millions of people, particularly millennials, the basic goal of acquiring decent, affordable accommodation is a distant dream. Leading economist Josh Ryan-Collins argues that to understand this crisis, we must examine a crucial paradox at the heart of modern capitalism. The interaction of private home ownership and a lightly regulated commercial banking system leads to a feedback cycle. Unlimited credit and money flows into an inherently finite supply of property, which causes rising house prices, declining home ownership, rising inequality and debt, stagnant growth and financial instability. Radical reforms are needed to break the cycle. This engaging and topical book will be essential reading for anyone who wants to understand why they can’t find an affordable home, and what we can do about it.Trade Review"In this excellent book, Josh Ryan-Collins shows that unaffordable housing is not part of nature, and how a number of countries have broken what the author aptly calls the housing-financial cycle, by de-linking land pricing from mortgage-debt pyramiding."—Michael Hudson, Levy Economics Institute of Bard College "Why can't you afford to buy a home? It's not because of too many smashed avocadoes, or too little land, but too much bank lending. Josh Ryan-Collins clearly explains how bank lending for speculation has made housing inaccessible, and how to tame the beast of finance."—Steve Keen, University of Kingston, author of Debunking Economics "This book is the best short introduction I've seen to a burgeoning literature on housing and financialisation"—Inside Housing "Why Can't You Afford a Home? is a short, readable and valuable book.... It makes a convincing set of arguments that explain much of our current housing crisis."—Irish TimesTable of Contents Contents Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Land, Home-Ownership and the Problem of Economic Rent Chapter 3 The Housing-Finance Feedback Cycle and the Deregulation of Finance Chapter 4 How and Why Economic Policy Went Astray Chapter 5 Breaking the Housing-Finance Feedback Cycle Chapter 6 Conclusion Bibliography

Read more less

Book SynopsisToday, the European Union is facing a crisis as serious as anything it has experienced since its origins more than half a century ago. What makes this so serious is that it is not a single crisis but rather multiple crises – the euro crisis, the migration/refugee crisis, Brexit, etc. – that overlap and reinforce one another, creating a cumulative array of challenges that threatens the very survival of the EU. For the first time in its history, there is a real risk that the EU could break up. This volume brings together sociologists, economists and political scientists from around Europe to shed light on how the EU got into this predicament. It argues that the multiple crises that have plagued the European Union in the last decade stem to a large extent from flaws in its construction and that these flaws are consequences of the political processes that led to the formation of the EU – in other words, the decisions that made possible the development of the EU created the conditions for the multiple crises it experiences today. This timely and wide-ranging book on one of the most important issues of our time will be of great interest to students and scholars in the social sciences, to politicians and policy-makers and to anyone concerned with Europe and its future.Trade Review"Castells and his colleagues convincingly show that the multiple crises facing Europe today - from Greece to Brexit - are not problems imposed on it from without but are to a large extent crises of its own creation. Their wide-ranging and insightful account should be read by everyone concerned with Europe and its future - and above all by those politicians and policy-makers who could change the direction of the EU before it’s too late." Paul Mason, author of Postcapitalism: A Guide to Our Future"To understand what we Europeans must do to secure a brighter future together, firstly we must understand the multifaceted nature of the challenges that our common project is facing. This insightful book reminds us that constructive self-criticism is an indispensable exercise in today's Europe." Javier Solana, President at ESADE Geo-Center for Global Economy and Geopolitics and Distinguished Fellow at the Brookings Institution"Europe's Crises takes the reader on a journey of relationships and interdependencies, from Maastricht to Brexit [,..] [and] unlike the mainstream media's insistence on hiding the wider context, the reader is constantly reminded of the history, geography and wider geopolitics impacting on the daily lives of Europeans."Morning Star Table of Contents List of Contributors List of Figures Introduction Part I: Economic Crises Chapter 1: The End of European Integration as We Knew It: A Political Economy Analysis Olivier Bouin Chapter 2: Making Sense of the Greek Crisis, 2010-2016 Manos Matsaganis Chapter 3: The Consequences of Crisis on the European Banking System Emilio Ontiveros Chapter 4: The Financial Crisis and the Restructuring of the Italian Banking System Sviatlana Hlebik Chapter 5: European Science and Technology in a Time of Crisis: ERC, EIT and Beyond João Caraça et al. Part II: Social Crises Chapter 6: Austerity and Health: The Impact of the Crisis in the UK and Rest of Europe David Stuckler et al. Chapter 7: Suffering: The Human and Social Costs of Economic Crisis John B. Thompson et al. Chapter 8: Achilles’ Heel: Europe’s Ambivalent Identity Manuel Castells Chapter 9: Europe Facing Evil: Xenophobia, Racism, anti-Semitism and Terrorism Michel Wieviorka Chapter 10: Europe and Refugees: Tragedy Bordering on Farce Paul Collier Part III: Political Crises Chapter 11: The Crisis of Legitimacy of European Institutions Sara B. Hobolt Chapter 12: Narratives of Responsibility: German Politics in the Greek Debt Crisis Claus Offe Chapter 13: The Double Crisis of European Social Democracy Colin Crouch Chapter 14: The Rise of the Radical Right Michel Wieviorka Chapter 15: From Crisis to Social Movement to Political Change: Podemos in Spain Manuel Castells Chapter 16: Italy: Autumn of the Second Republic by Pierfranco Pelizzetti Chapter 17: Brexit: The Causes and Consequences of the UK’s Decision to Leave the EU Geoffrey Evans et al. Chapter 18: Social Movements, Participation and Crisis in Europe Gustavo Cardoso et al. Conclusion

Read more less

Book SynopsisModern societies set limits, on everything from how fast motorists can drive to how much waste factory owners can dump in our rivers. But incomes in our deeply unequal world have no limits. Could capping top incomes tackle rising inequality more effectively than conventional approaches? In this engaging book, leading analyst Sam Pizzigati details how egalitarians worldwide are demonstrating that a “maximum wage” could be both economically viable and politically practical. He shows how, building on local initiatives, governments could use their tax systems to enforce fair income ratios across the board. The ultimate goal? That ought to be, Pizzigati argues, a world without a super rich. He explains why we need to create that world — and how we could speed its creation.Trade Review“Sam Pizzigati brilliantly explains how high taxation of the very rich dissuaded them from exploiting the rest of us so much in the past, how we lost that protection, and what we need to do to win it back today. A work of genius.”Danny Dorling, University of Oxford“Pizzigati raises an urgent question: How long can we endure the burden of the super rich, who suppress the wages of the majority, drive up the costs of everything, and concentrate political power in their own hands? Fortunately he has an answer, and it cries out for enactment.”Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and DimedTable of Contents Contents Acknowledgments Introduction/ Moderation in All Things, Even Income 1/ Defining Excess 2/ The Magic of Maximum Multiples 3/ A Society without a Super Rich 4/ Pipe Dream or Politically Practical Project? 5/ Evolving toward Equity Notes

Read more less

Book SynopsisWe live in a culture of credit. As wages have stagnated, we’ve seen a dramatic surge in private borrowing across the western world; increasing numbers of households are sucked into a hopeless vortex of spiralling debt, fuelled by exploitative lending. In this book Johnna Montgomerie argues that the situation is chronically dysfunctional, both individually and collectively. She shows that abolishing household debts can put an end to austerity and to the unsustainable forward march of debt-dependent growth. She combines astute economic analysis with the elements of an accessible guide to practical policy solutions such as extending unconventional monetary policy to the household sector, providing pragmatic and affordable refinancing options, and writing off the most pernicious elements of household debt. This framework, she contends, can help us to make our economy fairer and to tackle both the housing crisis and accelerating inequality.Trade Review"Abolishing household debt is heresy to the politicians who brought us bank bailouts and austerity. Johnna Montgomerie explains why so many families in Britain are dependent on borrowing and offers concrete proposals for ending the debt-fuelled growth."—Paul Mason, journalist and author "In this book, Johnna Montgomerie demonstrates that an apparently radical idea, abolishing household debt, is just common sense. Buy it, read it, tell others to do the same."—John Weeks, Coordinator of the Progressive Economy Forum "It is not often that I read a non-fiction book that is an easy read, explains complex economic concepts with metaphors that are simple enough to understand, and make perfect sense. Should we abolish household debts? by Johnna Montgomerie is such a book."—Financial Times "Concise, informative."—Morning Star

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe supreme challenge of our time is tackling climate change. We urgently need to curtail our use of fossil fuels – but how can we do so in a just and feasible way? In this compelling book, leading economist James Boyce shows that the key to solving this conundrum is to put a limit on carbon emissions, thereby raising the price of fossil fuels and generating strong incentives for clean energy. But there is a formidable hurdle: how do we secure broad public support for a policy that increases fuel costs for consumers? Boyce powerfully argues that carbon pricing can be made just and politically durable only if linked to returning the revenue to the public as carbon dividends. Founded on the principle that the gifts of nature belong to us all, not to corporations or governments, this bold reform could spark a twenty-first-century clean energy revolution. Essential reading for all concerned citizens, policy-makers, and students of public policy and environmental economics, this book will be a transformative contribution to one of the most important policy debates of our era.Trade Review“A wonderfully clear-headed account of how we can fight both climate change and widening inequality. If there’s to be a Green New Deal, this is the kind of policy we’ll need.”Robert Reich, former US Secretary of Labor “Carbon dividends are key to dealing with the threats of a changing climate. Read this book to learn about an important part of the solution.”George P. Shultz, former US Secretary of State “Boyce makes clear the one climate policy that would work.”James Hansen, former director, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies "The threat of climate change is real. But action is still too little, too late. This book provides a bold and disruptive idea that could shape the new wave of policy and action on climate change. It would be ambitious, leading the world to drastically cut emissions, and also equitable, ensuring cooperation in action."Sunita Narain, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi "Congress must act to stop the rising damage and costs of climate change -- and that action must be based on sound scientific research. The carbon cap and dividend approach is a simple and fair way to require polluters to pay and put the money into the pockets of American taxpayers. And thanks to Professor Boyce’s research, we know just how effective it can be." U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen"This crisply written book makes a compelling – and highly accessible – case for using carbon pricing to tackle the twin challenges of our time: climate change and income inequality. Covering the science, the markets, and the politics, Boyce argues that a carbon dividend strategy is simple, effective, and fair. Regardless of where one falls in the nuances of the climate policy debate, this is a gem of a volume."Manuel Pastor, director of the Program for Environmental and Regional Equity, University of Southern California "Hooray for James Boyce’s Case for Carbon Dividends. In clear and compelling English, it explains the carbon pollution challenge and makes the case for citizen dividends as a straightforward solution. Too many global warming debates proceed in highly technical terms, leaving regular citizens – rightly -- worried that they will pay the price for new taxes and rules. But carbon dividends – equal remittances from carbon tax revenues sent to every American man, woman, and child each year -- are easy to understand, impose more costs on rich households that currently use more dirty energy, and would leave most working and middle-class families as net winners. This primer should kick start many community debates, because it tells us exactly how the United States can make rapid progress toward a green economy and become a more equal democracy in the process."Theda Skocpol, Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology, Harvard University, and Director of the Scholars Strategy Network "This is the best thing ever written on the subject. Clear, eloquent and irrefutable, it’s a must-read for all concerned with surviving the 21st century."Peter Barnes, author of With Liberty and Dividends for All "People fight climate change when they believe in a solution. Boyce's guide to carbon dividends is the indispensable guide for what's big, bold, fair and strong enough for the job. We need this book!"Camila Thorndike, co-founder, Our Climate "We define the atmosphere as a common property resource, so we can understand carbon dividends as payments by users of the resource to its owners – this is economic democracy. James Boyce uses principles of equity and economic efficiency to build a practical strategy to address climate change."Dallas Burtraw, Darius Gaskins Senior Fellow, Resources for the Future Table of ContentsContents Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Why Cut Carbon? 2. Why a Price on Carbon? 3. What is Carbon Rent? 4. The Carbon Dividend Frequently Asked Questions Further Reading Notes

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe supreme challenge of our time is tackling climate change. We urgently need to curtail our use of fossil fuels – but how can we do so in a just and feasible way? In this compelling book, leading economist James Boyce shows that the key to solving this conundrum is to put a limit on carbon emissions, thereby raising the price of fossil fuels and generating strong incentives for clean energy. But there is a formidable hurdle: how do we secure broad public support for a policy that increases fuel costs for consumers? Boyce powerfully argues that carbon pricing can be made just and politically durable only if linked to returning the revenue to the public as carbon dividends. Founded on the principle that the gifts of nature belong to us all, not to corporations or governments, this bold reform could spark a twenty-first-century clean energy revolution. Essential reading for all concerned citizens, policy-makers, and students of public policy and environmental economics, this book will be a transformative contribution to one of the most important policy debates of our era.Trade Review"A wonderfully clear-headed account of how we can fight both climate change and widening inequality. If there’s to be a Green New Deal, this is the kind of policy we’ll need.” Robert Reich, former US Secretary of Labor “Carbon dividends are key to dealing with the threats of a changing climate. Read this book to learn about an important part of the solution.”George P. Shultz, former US Secretary of State “Boyce makes clear the one climate policy that would work.”James Hansen, former director, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies "The threat of climate change is real. But action is still too little, too late. This book provides a bold and disruptive idea that could shape the new wave of policy and action on climate change. It would be ambitious, leading the world to drastically cut emissions, and also equitable, ensuring cooperation in action."Sunita Narain, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi "Congress must act to stop the rising damage and costs of climate change -- and that action must be based on sound scientific research. The carbon cap and dividend approach is a simple and fair way to require polluters to pay and put the money into the pockets of American taxpayers. And thanks to Professor Boyce’s research, we know just how effective it can be." U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen"This crisply written book makes a compelling – and highly accessible – case for using carbon pricing to tackle the twin challenges of our time: climate change and income inequality. Covering the science, the markets, and the politics, Boyce argues that a carbon dividend strategy is simple, effective, and fair. Regardless of where one falls in the nuances of the climate policy debate, this is a gem of a volume."Manuel Pastor, director of the Program for Environmental and Regional Equity, University of Southern California "Hooray for James Boyce’s Case for Carbon Dividends. In clear and compelling English, it explains the carbon pollution challenge and makes the case for citizen dividends as a straightforward solution. Too many global warming debates proceed in highly technical terms, leaving regular citizens – rightly -- worried that they will pay the price for new taxes and rules. But carbon dividends – equal remittances from carbon tax revenues sent to every American man, woman, and child each year -- are easy to understand, impose more costs on rich households that currently use more dirty energy, and would leave most working and middle-class families as net winners. This primer should kick start many community debates, because it tells us exactly how the United States can make rapid progress toward a green economy and become a more equal democracy in the process."Theda Skocpol, Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology, Harvard University, and Director of the Scholars Strategy Network "This is the best thing ever written on the subject. Clear, eloquent and irrefutable, it’s a must-read for all concerned with surviving the 21st century."Peter Barnes, author of With Liberty and Dividends for All "People fight climate change when they believe in a solution. Boyce's guide to carbon dividends is the indispensable guide for what's big, bold, fair and strong enough for the job. We need this book!"Camila Thorndike, co-founder, Our Climate "We define the atmosphere as a common property resource, so we can understand carbon dividends as payments by users of the resource to its owners – this is economic democracy. James Boyce uses principles of equity and economic efficiency to build a practical strategy to address climate change."Dallas Burtraw, Darius Gaskins Senior Fellow, Resources for the FutureTable of ContentsContents Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Why Cut Carbon? 2. Why a Price on Carbon? 3. What is Carbon Rent? 4. The Carbon Dividend Frequently Asked Questions Further Reading Notes

Read more less

Book SynopsisFew economic phenomena provoke as much confusion as money. From the first measures of value and the physical coins that circulated at the dawn human civilization to the era of ‘virtual’ money transmitted through cyberspace, it is ubiquitous and hugely important, yet economists cannot even agree on what it is. In this pithy, accessible book, Geoffrey Ingham cuts through this tangled web of debate to bring rare clarity. Ingham begins by examining the fundamental debate over the nature of money: is it fundamentally a natural, ‘neutral’ measure of pre-existing value produced by ‘real’ economic forces? Or is it a socially produced and politically manipulated force that creates new value? He proceeds to trace the import of these competing views for how we understand our contemporary monetary systems and their practical and policy-related implications, from their role in financial crises to proposals for reform. Students of political economy, economic sociology and monetary economics will find this book an invaluable primer, as will general readers wishing to understand how money shapes their lives, from the cash in their pocket to the numbers on their computer screen.Trade Review‘Geoffrey Ingham offers a masterful account of money as a social technology, contrasting it with mainstream monetary theory and focusing on the relations between states and markets. He does so with an impressive sweep from ancient history to the present.’Sheila Dow, University of Stirling ‘This is a brilliantly clear and succinct survey. Ingham provides a crisp and critical account of the major theories of money, together with a sharp analysis of contemporary forms of money such as Bitcoin and other alternative moneys. For anyone searching for a reliable and accessible way into the extraordinarily complex phenomenon of money, this book is a must-read.’Nigel Dodd, London School of Economics and Political ScienceTable of ContentsPart I What is Money? 1 Money’s Puzzles 2 The ‘incompatibles’ 3 A social theory of money and monetary systems Part II Capitalism and Money 4 The evolution of capitalist money 5 Modern money (i): states, central banks, and their banking system 6 Modern money (ii): ‘near’ money; ‘complementary’, ‘alternative’; ‘surrogate’ money; and ‘crypto currency’ 7 The Great Financial Crisis and the Question of Money 8 Some conclusions

Read more less

Book SynopsisAusterity has dominated the policy agenda in the past decade. Although it appeared to end with the COVID-19 pandemic, a return to harsh cutbacks in the future cannot be ruled out. In this incisive analysis, Diane Perrons shows that while austerity policies have devastating effects on people's lives, their gendered dynamics are particularly conspicuous: budget cuts have been overwhelmingly aimed at services used by women. She shows how the gender aspects of this economic and social catastrophe intersected with a range of other factors, making the experience of austerity very different for different groups - and highly unjust. Not only that, it undermined responses to COVID-19. She finishes by critiquing the justifications for austerity policies and asks whether there are compelling alternatives that can re-invigorate economies and societies after the pandemic, and avoid a return to austerity. This compelling book will be essential reading for activists, policymakers and students of feminist political economy everywhere.​Trade Review‘This succinct book cuts through the seemingly neutral language used to justify austerity policies to reveal the intersecting inequalities, with gender at their heart, that such policies perpetrate.’Naila Kabeer, London School of Economics ‘A clear and accessible account of the fundamentally gendered nature of austerity, and a prescient reminder of the inequities that COVID-19 may deepen – unless we embrace the credible alternatives offered by Diane Perrons in this book.’Hannah Bargawi, SOAS University of LondonTable of ContentsTable of contents:Chapter 1: Introduction: Austerity, Gender and COVID-19 Chapter 2: Gendered Impact of Austerity Chapter 3: The Austerity Deception: Gendered Economics Chapter 4: Alternative Futures Notes References

Read more less

Book SynopsisAusterity has dominated the policy agenda in the past decade. Although it appeared to end with the COVID-19 pandemic, a return to harsh cutbacks in the future cannot be ruled out. In this incisive analysis, Diane Perrons shows that while austerity policies have devastating effects on people's lives, their gendered dynamics are particularly conspicuous: budget cuts have been overwhelmingly aimed at services used by women. She shows how the gender aspects of this economic and social catastrophe intersected with a range of other factors, making the experience of austerity very different for different groups - and highly unjust. Not only that, it undermined responses to COVID-19. She finishes by critiquing the justifications for austerity policies and asks whether there are compelling alternatives that can re-invigorate economies and societies after the pandemic, and avoid a return to austerity. This compelling book will be essential reading for activists, policymakers and students of feminist political economy everywhere.​Trade Review‘This succinct book cuts through the seemingly neutral language used to justify austerity policies to reveal the intersecting inequalities, with gender at their heart, that such policies perpetrate.’Naila Kabeer, London School of Economics ‘A clear and accessible account of the fundamentally gendered nature of austerity, and a prescient reminder of the inequities that COVID-19 may deepen – unless we embrace the credible alternatives offered by Diane Perrons in this book.’Hannah Bargawi, SOAS University of LondonTable of ContentsTable of contents:Chapter 1: Introduction: Austerity, Gender and COVID-19 Chapter 2: Gendered Impact of Austerity Chapter 3: The Austerity Deception: Gendered Economics Chapter 4: Alternative Futures Notes References

Read more less

Book SynopsisWages for the majority have been stagnant for decades, but a lucky few have enjoyed a pay bonanza. Top company bosses take home in several days as much as most people earn in a whole year. In this hard-hitting book, Deborah Hargreaves explains why pay for the top 0.1% has sky-rocketed in the past 20 years. She gives a devastating account of how it has created a vicious circle that destabilizes our economy and undermines social cohesion, demolishing the twisted logic of the chief executives who say: ‘I’m worth it’, when that means raking in £70m a year. A rigorous exposé of the dysfunctional nature of our ‘winner-takes-all’ economy, this book debunks the myths behind top pay and examines a range of pragmatic solutions.Trade Review"Nothing is so politically alienating as the way society has lost control over obscene top pay. No-one is as trenchant – and readable – as Deborah Hargreaves in her expert analysis."—Polly Toynbee, The Guardian "In her extremely valuable book, Deborah Hargreaves demonstrates that the explosion in executive pay overwhelmingly reflects rent extraction. That is economically damaging, because performance-related pay encourages poor decision-making, and socially destructive, because it undermines the legitimacy of capitalism." —Martin Wolf, The Financial TimesTable of Contents Contents Foreword Chapter 1: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Chapter 2: Just Deserts? Chapter 3: Why Top Pay Matters Chapter 4: Corporate Governance Fights a Losing Battle Chapter 5: What Can Be Done? Conclusion Notes

Read more less

Book SynopsisWages for the majority have been stagnant for decades, but a lucky few have enjoyed a pay bonanza. Top company bosses take home in several days as much as most people earn in a whole year. In this hard-hitting book, Deborah Hargreaves explains why pay for the top 0.1% has sky-rocketed in the past 20 years. She gives a devastating account of how it has created a vicious circle that destabilizes our economy and undermines social cohesion, demolishing the twisted logic of the chief executives who say: ‘I’m worth it’, when that means raking in £70m a year. A rigorous exposé of the dysfunctional nature of our ‘winner-takes-all’ economy, this book debunks the myths behind top pay and examines a range of pragmatic solutions.Trade Review"Nothing is so politically alienating as the way society has lost control over obscene top pay. No-one is as trenchant – and readable – as Deborah Hargreaves in her expert analysis."—Polly Toynbee, The Guardian "In her extremely valuable book, Deborah Hargreaves demonstrates that the explosion in executive pay overwhelmingly reflects rent extraction. That is economically damaging, because performance-related pay encourages poor decision-making, and socially destructive, because it undermines the legitimacy of capitalism." —Martin Wolf, The Financial Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat is the connection between the sleaziness of Harvey Weinstein’s ‘business meetings’ and the passionless doctrine of neoclassical economics? In this witty and incisive examination of the new economy, Peter Fleming argues that they are closer than you might think. The quest to rid society of bureaucracy, shrink government and burn red tape has certainly made capitalism ‘more human’, but not in the family-friendly way envisaged by free-market gurus. Increasing informality has led to a capitalism fuelled by limitless exploitation and increasingly seedy methods of management, from semi-feudal workplace hazing rituals and predatory middle-managers with an axe to grind to arbitrary zero-hours contracts, Uber and, perhaps worst of all, the compulsory gym session with your boss. Fleming dubs this ‘Sugar Daddy Capitalism’ after the controversial dating-app wealthy businessmen use to meet young girls, most of whom are struggling with university fees. What seems like a creepy outlier is actually a prescient metaphor for our whole economy: an anonymous and impersonal cash system that is also intent on getting under your skin, extra close and capable of ruining everything if you say ... ‘no’.Trade Review"Sugar Daddy Capitalism is a sober, utterly convincing analysis of contemporary economies of all scales, and the encroachment of the market into every nook and cranny – literally – of our lives. This book won't make you happy, but it will make you angry."—Nina Power, University of Roehampton "Scary, poignant and hilarious – Sugar Daddy Capitalism confirms Peter Fleming's position as one of the most interesting social analysts writing today."—Carl Cederström, co-author of The Wellness SyndromeTable of Contents Contents Introduction: The Economics of Sleaze Chapter One: Uberfamiliar Chapter Two: Sugar Daddy Capitalism Chapter Three: Wiki-Feudalism Chapter Four: The Human ... All Too Human Workplace Chapter Five: No More Buddy Buddy Conclusion: Less Human

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat is the connection between the sleaziness of Harvey Weinstein’s ‘business meetings’ and the passionless doctrine of neoclassical economics? In this witty and incisive examination of the new economy, Peter Fleming argues that they are closer than you might think. The quest to rid society of bureaucracy, shrink government and burn red tape has certainly made capitalism ‘more human’, but not in the family-friendly way envisaged by free-market gurus. Increasing informality has led to a capitalism fuelled by limitless exploitation and increasingly seedy methods of management, from semi-feudal workplace hazing rituals and predatory middle-managers with an axe to grind to arbitrary zero-hours contracts, Uber and, perhaps worst of all, the compulsory gym session with your boss. Fleming dubs this ‘Sugar Daddy Capitalism’ after the controversial dating-app wealthy businessmen use to meet young girls, most of whom are struggling with university fees. What seems like a creepy outlier is actually a prescient metaphor for our whole economy: an anonymous and impersonal cash system that is also intent on getting under your skin, extra close and capable of ruining everything if you say ... ‘no’.Trade Review"Sugar Daddy Capitalism is a sober, utterly convincing analysis of contemporary economies of all scales, and the encroachment of the market into every nook and cranny – literally – of our lives. This book won't make you happy, but it will make you angry."—Nina Power, University of Roehampton "Scary, poignant and hilarious – Sugar Daddy Capitalism confirms Peter Fleming's position as one of the most interesting social analysts writing today."—Carl Cederström, co-author of The Wellness SyndromeTable of Contents Contents Introduction: The Economics of Sleaze Chapter One: Uberfamiliar Chapter Two: Sugar Daddy Capitalism Chapter Three: Wiki-Feudalism Chapter Four: The Human ... All Too Human Workplace Chapter Five: No More Buddy Buddy Conclusion: Less Human

Read more less

Book SynopsisJohn Maynard Keynes is the 20th century’s greatest economist. He sparked an intellectual revolution that transformed economic theory and policymaking. This book, written in plain English with minimal mathematics, is a concise and probing account of his major ideas. Keynes, argues Mark Hayes, showed that economics is a science of thinking in terms of models, in which progress depends on recognising when established models have become obsolete and new ones are required. Hayes outlines how Keynes did this, tracing his progression from the ‘Classical’ model that he inherited through to his masterpiece, The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money, and beyond. The intellectual narrative is placed in its historical context, from the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919 to Bretton Woods. The final chapters consider the impact of Keynes’s legacy, including his relevance to reform of the Euro. This accomplished study is not only a comprehensive introduction for students and general readers, but also a crystal-clear demonstration of how Keynes’ thought is vital to understanding why contemporary economics needs to discard its old models and embrace profound change.Trade Review"Hayes’s book deserves wide readership"Journal of EconomicsTable of ContentsList of Tables List of Figures Acknowledgements Preface How To Read This Book Glossary 1. Why Study Keynes? 2. The Classical Theory of Employment, Interest and Money 3. The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money 4. The Great Confusion 5. The Long Struggle to Escape 6. From Versailles to Bretton Woods 7. The Keynesian Era 8. Keynes for Today Further Reading Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisJohn Maynard Keynes is the 20th century’s greatest economist. He sparked an intellectual revolution that transformed economic theory and policymaking. This book, written in plain English with minimal mathematics, is a concise and probing account of his major ideas. Keynes, argues Mark Hayes, showed that economics is a science of thinking in terms of models, in which progress depends on recognising when established models have become obsolete and new ones are required. Hayes outlines how Keynes did this, tracing his progression from the ‘Classical’ model that he inherited through to his masterpiece, The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money, and beyond. The intellectual narrative is placed in its historical context, from the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919 to Bretton Woods. The final chapters consider the impact of Keynes’s legacy, including his relevance to reform of the Euro. This accomplished study is not only a comprehensive introduction for students and general readers, but also a crystal-clear demonstration of how Keynes’ thought is vital to understanding why contemporary economics needs to discard its old models and embrace profound change.Trade Review"Hayes’s book deserves wide readership"Journal of EconomicsTable of ContentsList of Tables List of Figures Acknowledgements Preface How To Read This Book Glossary 1. Why Study Keynes? 2. The Classical Theory of Employment, Interest and Money 3. The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money 4. The Great Confusion 5. The Long Struggle to Escape 6. From Versailles to Bretton Woods 7. The Keynesian Era 8. Keynes for Today Further Reading Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisNo economist has written more incisively and provocatively on financial crisis than Hyman Minsky. Minsky is best known for his claim that "stability is destabilizing" – that the seeds of the bust are sown in the boom. This financial instability hypothesis received renewed attention – and substantial confirmation – in the global financial crisis of 2008. Minsky's insights are not limited to moments of crisis; they grow out of a comprehensive and critical theory of financial capitalism. This book provides a systematic overview of Minsky's thought, covering his entire body of work. It shows how financial crises arise not as exceptions, but out of the normal operation of a financial capitalist system. It explains why Minsky's theories sit uncomfortably with economics and what efforts have been made to integrate them, and shows how Minsky's work can be incorporated into other fields of social thought. This book will be of interest to students and scholars in economics, political economy, finance, politics, and social theory, as well as to anyone with an interest in the financial system and its tendency toward crisis.Trade Review“Capitalism is essentially a financial system, said Minsky fifty years ago, and his thought laid the foundations for understanding how that system works. Reinterpreting Minsky for today, Neilson offers the best available introduction to Minsky’s thought for the modern reader.”Perry Mehrling, Boston University “Daniel H. Neilson’s book manages an extraordinary feat: the reader understands Minsky’s life and his system of thought in one book. You need to understand Minsky’s ideas to understand capitalism in the twenty-first century. This is the best book to help you do that.”Stephen Kinsella, University of LimerickTable of ContentsAcknowledgements 1 Introduction 2 Financial Capitalism 3 A Payments Theory of Finance 4 The Inadequacy of Economics 5 Making the Market 6 Last Resort 7 The Resilience of Economics 8 Minsky for All Moments References

Read more less

Book SynopsisDuring the last few decades, the gap between the incomes, wealth and living standards of rich and poor people has increased in most countries. Economic inequality has become a defining issue of our age. In this book, leading political economist Frank Stilwell provides a comprehensive overview of the nature, causes, and consequences of this growing divide. He shows how we can understand inequalities of wealth and incomes, globally and nationally, examines the scale of the problem and explains how it affects our wellbeing. He also shows that, although governments are often committed to ‘growth at all costs’ and ‘trickle down’ economics, there are alternative public policies that could be used to narrow the gap between rich and poor. Stilwell’s engaging and clear guide to the issues will be indispensable reading for all students, general readers and scholars interested in inequality in political economy, economics, public policy and beyond.Trade Review'This is a very valuable book that will be helpful to anyone studying economic inequality. It contains an admirably clear overview of the causes, nature and consequences of inequality, and perceptively analyses the policies that could tackle the growing gap between rich and poor.'Gabriel Zucman, University of Berkeley, California'Concerns about the scale and impact of inequality are growing, around the world and across different academic disciplines. Frank Stillwell sets out, in a clear and comprehensive guide, everything you need to know about the causes and consequences of economic inequality, as well as the changes needed to create a more equal world.'Kate Pickett, University of York 'Here is political economy at its finest, marrying accessible analysis with the consideration of practical, progressive possibilities. After Piketty, Stilwell is the must read.'Franklin Obeng-Odoom, Contributions to Political EconomyTable of Contents Contents Preface Preliminaries 1. Mind the Gap 2. Incomes, Wealth, Poverty and Equity Patterns 3. Scales and Shapes of Inequality 4. Shifting Shares 5. Multi-dimensional Inequalities Processes 6. Explaining Who Gets What 7. Driving the Disparities Problems 8. Hazards to Handle: Opportunities to Grasp 9. Towards Happier Societies? Policies 10. Redistribution 11. Progressive Pre-distribution 12. A Global Challenge Prospects 13. Impediments to Equity 14. Making the Future References Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisDuring the last few decades, the gap between the incomes, wealth and living standards of rich and poor people has increased in most countries. Economic inequality has become a defining issue of our age. In this book, leading political economist Frank Stilwell provides a comprehensive overview of the nature, causes, and consequences of this growing divide. He shows how we can understand inequalities of wealth and incomes, globally and nationally, examines the scale of the problem and explains how it affects our wellbeing. He also shows that, although governments are often committed to ‘growth at all costs’ and ‘trickle down’ economics, there are alternative public policies that could be used to narrow the gap between rich and poor. Stilwell’s engaging and clear guide to the issues will be indispensable reading for all students, general readers and scholars interested in inequality in political economy, economics, public policy and beyond.Trade Review'This is a very valuable book that will be helpful to anyone studying economic inequality. It contains an admirably clear overview of the causes, nature and consequences of inequality, and perceptively analyses the policies that could tackle the growing gap between rich and poor.'Gabriel Zucman, University of Berkeley, California'Concerns about the scale and impact of inequality are growing, around the world and across different academic disciplines. Frank Stillwell sets out, in a clear and comprehensive guide, everything you need to know about the causes and consequences of economic inequality, as well as the changes needed to create a more equal world.'Kate Pickett, University of York 'Here is political economy at its finest, marrying accessible analysis with the consideration of practical, progressive possibilities. After Piketty, Stilwell is the must read.'Franklin Obeng-Odoom, Contributions to Political Economy

Read more less

Book SynopsisShould human organs be bought and sold? Is it right that richer people should be able to pay poorer people to wait in a queue for them? Should objects in museums ever be sold? The assumption underlying such questions is that there are things that should not be bought and sold because it would give them a financial value that would replace some other, and dearly held, human value. Those who ask questions of this kind often fear that the replacement of human by money values – a process of commodification – is sweeping all before it. However, as Nicholas Abercrombie argues, commodification can be, and has been, resisted by the development of a moral climate that defines certain things as outside a market. That resistance, however, is never complete because the two regimes of value – human and money – are both necessary for the sustainability of society. His analysis of these processes offers a thought-provoking read that will appeal to students and scholars interested in market capitalism and culture.Trade Review"As ever-wider domains of social life are relentlessly subject to the brutality of the price mechanism, populaces increasingly aspire to a new moral economy. In this deeply researched historical sociology, Abercrombie identifies the mechanisms, practices, and contingent conditions necessary to successfully defy commodification and establish alternative “regimes of value”. The result makes an essential contribution to the urgent task of establishing a new social justice economy." Margaret Somers, University of Michigan "This book shows that contrary to many theoretical accounts of modern economies 'commodification' need not be an all-or-nothing affair. Through illuminating analyses of concrete examples, Nick Abercrombie shows how in practice there are often degrees of commodification and moral regulation and explains how the relations between them have been constructed." Andrew Sayer, Lancaster UniversityTable of Contents1. Money Talk Part One: Case-Studies 2. Land 3. Bodies 4. Books Part Two: Resistance to Commodification 5. Sacredness and Property 6. Moral Regulation 7. Moral Climate, Ideology and Intellectuals 8. Moral Complexity References​

Read more less

Book SynopsisShould human organs be bought and sold? Is it right that richer people should be able to pay poorer people to wait in a queue for them? Should objects in museums ever be sold? The assumption underlying such questions is that there are things that should not be bought and sold because it would give them a financial value that would replace some other, and dearly held, human value. Those who ask questions of this kind often fear that the replacement of human by money values – a process of commodification – is sweeping all before it. However, as Nicholas Abercrombie argues, commodification can be, and has been, resisted by the development of a moral climate that defines certain things as outside a market. That resistance, however, is never complete because the two regimes of value – human and money – are both necessary for the sustainability of society. His analysis of these processes offers a thought-provoking read that will appeal to students and scholars interested in market capitalism and culture.Trade Review"As ever-wider domains of social life are relentlessly subject to the brutality of the price mechanism, populaces increasingly aspire to a new moral economy. In this deeply researched historical sociology, Abercrombie identifies the mechanisms, practices, and contingent conditions necessary to successfully defy commodification and establish alternative “regimes of value”. The result makes an essential contribution to the urgent task of establishing a new social justice economy." Margaret Somers, University of Michigan"This book shows that contrary to many theoretical accounts of modern economies 'commodification' need not be an all-or-nothing affair. Through illuminating analyses of concrete examples, Nick Abercrombie shows how in practice there are often degrees of commodification and moral regulation and explains how the relations between them have been constructed."Andrew Sayer, Lancaster UniversityTable of Contents1. Money Talk Part One: Case-Studies 2. Land 3. Bodies 4. Books Part Two: Resistance to Commodification 5. Sacredness and Property 6. Moral Regulation 7. Moral Climate, Ideology and Intellectuals 8. Moral Complexity References​

Read more less

Book SynopsisMuch of our life involves working, preparing for work, searching for work, or thinking and worrying about work. Whether paid or unpaid, free or coerced, full-time, part-time, or zero-hours, work defines us and helps shape our behavior both on and off the job. In this accessible book, leading labor economist Bruce Pietrykowski offers a highly engaging exploration of the history and contemporary organization of work under capitalism. His clear presentation of the theoretical debates is illustrated by real-world examples from across the globe and a skillful account of alternatives that point toward a post-capitalist future. Employing a progressive, worker-centered vision that goes beyond mainstream economics, he examines themes ranging from inequality, care work, and the gig economy to technological change and a universal basic income. His analysis emphasizes power, conflict, solidarity, and cooperation, interpreted through the lenses of class, race, gender, and place. This comprehensive and highly readable book will be of interest to students of economics, sociology, labor studies, and politics seeking to learn more about work and workers in the global economy, as well as interested general readers.Trade Review�This bright, readable, and radical overview of labor economics points a smart finger at the work that goes on behind and beyond capitalist employment.�Nancy Folbre, University of Massachusetts �This book provides a lucid and readable introduction to the political economy of work for students and non-economists. Drawing on Marxist, feminist, and Post-Keynesian schools of thought, and a wealth of historical examples, Pietrykowski provides a toolkit to break the intellectual fetters of mainstream economics. Starting with the question of what is special about labor, Pietrykowski's discussion covers labor-market inequality, work in the household, employer behavior, worker ownership, technological change, and much more.�Ian Greer, Cornell University�Bruce Pietrykowski has written a sharp and nuanced critique of mainstream perspectives in labor economics that will broaden readers' understanding of what constitutes �work� in the modern economy.�Journal of Labor and Society�Very insightful...the book functions as Cliff Notes...for the classics and gives interested readers a wealth of citations and material on contemporary debates.�Daniel James Joseph, Labour

Read more less

Book SynopsisMany on the Left see the European Union as a fundamentally benign project with the potential to underpin ever greater cooperation and progress. If it has drifted rightward, the answer is to fight for reform from within. In this iconoclastic polemic, economist Costas Lapavitsas demolishes this view. He contends that the EU’s response to the Eurozone crisis represents the ultimate transformation of the union into a neoliberal citadel that institutionally embeds austerity, privatization, and wage cuts. Concurrently, the rise of German hegemony has divided the EU into an unstable core and dependent peripheries. These related developments make the EU impervious to meaningful reform. The solution is therefore a direct challenge to the EU project that stresses popular and national sovereignty as preconditions for true internationalist socialism. Lapavitsas’s powerful manifesto for a left opposition to the EU upends the wishful thinking that often characterizes the debate and will be a challenging read for all on the Left interested in the future of Europe.Trade Review"For those wanting a clear and concise summary of the left case against the euro and of the misrepresentation of German European hegemony as the consummation of the 'European idea', there is no way around this book. Nowhere has the political economy of the common currency and of German ascendancy in Europe been more clearly exposed."—Wolfgang Streeck, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies "Costas Lapavitsas is the most important commentator on the EU and its current crises, including Brexit. This is one of the most significant books on modern politics to appear in the last decade, and virtually the only one fully to grasp the nature of our present situation."—Richard Tuck, Harvard University "Important and timely"—E-International Relations "In 2015, a left-wing government in Athens was wrestling with Berlin and Brussels. Two prominent economists took part in the scuffle: one, Yanis Varoufakis, became Minister of Finance; the other, Costas Lapavitsas, was a member of the ruling party, Syriza. The first was a Europhile who viewed the capitulation of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras as an invitation to struggle for 'another Europe'. The second, always the sceptic, saw his views confirmed by the debacle."—Le Monde Diplomatique "Expedient, informed and lucid."—LSE Review of BooksTable of ContentsCh. 1. The European Union and the Left 1.1 Fragmentation and retreat of democracy 1.2 The challenge for the Left Ch. 2. The evolution of the EU since Maastricht 2.1. Neoliberalism and hegemony in the EU – drawing on Hayek 2.2. Neoliberalism and state monopoly over money 2.3. Creating the euro: A lever of neoliberalism and conditional German hegemony 2.4. The “architectural flaws” of the euro 2.5. The broader context of conditional German hegemony Ch. 3. The ascendancy of Germany and the division of Europe 3.1. A distinctive financialised economy 3.2. The defeat of German labour in the 1990s 3.3. The competitive advantage of Germany and the creation of the Southern periphery 3.4. The unstable core of the EMU and the Central European periphery Ch. 4. The Eurozone crisis: Class interests and hegemonic power 4.1. Crisis erupts 4.2. Imposing a neoliberal agenda 4.3. An unstable and fraught equilibrium Ch. 5. Greece in the iron trap of the euro 5.1 The proximate causes of the Greek crisis 5.2 Long-term weaknesses of the Greek economy 5.3. The lenders impose bail-outs and bring disaster 5.4. Class and national interests in the Greek disaster 5.5 The political debacle of SYRIZA Ch. 6. Seeking democracy, sovereignty, and socialism 6.1. Democracy and sovereignty in the EU, once again 6.2 The impossibility of radical reform 6.3. A class-based stance for the Left 6.4. What to do?

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, central banks created trillions of dollars of new money, and poured it into financial markets. ‘Quantitative Easing’ (QE) was supposed to prevent deflation and restore economic growth. But the money didn’t go to ordinary people: it went to the rich, who didn’t need it. It went to big corporations and banks – the same banks whose reckless lending caused the crash. This led to a decade of stagnation, not recovery. QE failed. In this book, Frances Coppola makes the case for a ‘people’s QE’, in which the money goes directly to ordinary people and small businesses. She argues that it is the fairest and most effective way of restoring crisis-hit economies and helping to solve the long-term challenges of ageing populations, automation and climate change.Trade Review‘Irresponsible bank lending caused the crisis of 2008, and increased inequality dramatically. Bernanke's Quantitative Easing rewarded banks, and increased inequality further. I agree with Coppola that the next QE should be for the people. Read this book to learn how it would work.’Steve Keen, author of Debunking Economics ‘Frances Coppola is a world expert on commercial and central banking. Her defence of “People’s QE” is a must-read for all those engaged in the debate. No one else could approach this subject more authoritatively.’Ann Pettifor, Director of Policy Research in Macroeconomics (PRIME)Table of ContentsIntroduction Section 1 The Great Experiment Section 2 Understanding Money Section 3 QE for the People: A Better Way Section 4 Some (Weak) Objections to QE for the People Section 5 Lessons for the Next Depression Notes

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, central banks created trillions of dollars of new money, and poured it into financial markets. ‘Quantitative Easing’ (QE) was supposed to prevent deflation and restore economic growth. But the money didn’t go to ordinary people: it went to the rich, who didn’t need it. It went to big corporations and banks – the same banks whose reckless lending caused the crash. This led to a decade of stagnation, not recovery. QE failed. In this book, Frances Coppola makes the case for a ‘people’s QE’, in which the money goes directly to ordinary people and small businesses. She argues that it is the fairest and most effective way of restoring crisis-hit economies and helping to solve the long-term challenges of ageing populations, automation and climate change.Trade Review‘Irresponsible bank lending caused the crisis of 2008, and increased inequality dramatically. Bernanke's Quantitative Easing rewarded banks, and increased inequality further. I agree with Coppola that the next QE should be for the people. Read this book to learn how it would work.’Steve Keen, author of Debunking Economics ‘Frances Coppola is a world expert on commercial and central banking. Her defence of “People’s QE” is a must-read for all those engaged in the debate. No one else could approach this subject more authoritatively.’Ann Pettifor, Director of Policy Research in Macroeconomics (PRIME)Table of ContentsIntroduction Section 1 The Great Experiment Section 2 Understanding Money Section 3 QE for the People: A Better Way Section 4 Some (Weak) Objections to QE for the People Section 5 Lessons for the Next Depression Notes

Read more less

Book SynopsisIncreasingly, employees are being falsely treated as ‘self-employed’. This phenomenon – the ‘gig economy’ – is seen as the inevitable shape of things to come. In this book, Colin Crouch takes a step back and questions this logic. He shows how the idea of an employee – a stable status that involves a bundle of rights – has maintained a curious persistence. Examining the ways companies are attacking these rights, from proffering temporary work to involuntary part-time work to ‘gigging’, he reveals the paradoxes of the situation and argues that it should not and cannot continue. He goes on to propose reforms to reverse the perverse incentives that reward irresponsible employers and punish good ones, setting out an agenda for a realistic future of secure work. Crouch’s penetrating analysis will be of interest to everyone interested in the future of work, the welfare state and the gig economy.Trade Review‘A timely and thought-provoking read, lifting the lid on how the gig economy is undermining workers, damaging society and compromising our prosperity. It ought to act as a wake-up call to policy-makers and politicians.’Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress ‘Crouch presents a careful discussion of the relevant data and posits a powerful set of proposals for reforming labour markets in the era of the gig economy.’Steven Vallas, Northeastern University

Read more less

Book SynopsisIncreasingly, employees are being falsely treated as ‘self-employed’. This phenomenon – the ‘gig economy’ – is seen as the inevitable shape of things to come. In this book, Colin Crouch takes a step back and questions this logic. He shows how the idea of an employee – a stable status that involves a bundle of rights – has maintained a curious persistence. Examining the ways companies are attacking these rights, from proffering temporary work to involuntary part-time work to ‘gigging’, he reveals the paradoxes of the situation and argues that it should not and cannot continue. He goes on to propose reforms to reverse the perverse incentives that reward irresponsible employers and punish good ones, setting out an agenda for a realistic future of secure work. Crouch’s penetrating analysis will be of interest to everyone interested in the future of work, the welfare state and the gig economy.Trade Review‘A timely and thought-provoking read, lifting the lid on how the gig economy is undermining workers, damaging society and compromising our prosperity. It ought to act as a wake-up call to policy-makers and politicians.’Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress ‘Crouch presents a careful discussion of the relevant data and posits a powerful set of proposals for reforming labour markets in the era of the gig economy.’Steven Vallas, Northeastern University

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘Governments should spend no more than their tax income.’ Most people in Europe and North America accept this statement as simple common sense. It resonates with the deeply engrained economic metaphors that dominate public discourse, from ‘living within your means’ to ‘balancing the budget’ – all necessary, or so conventional wisdom holds, to avoid the dangers of debt, taxation and financial ruin. This book shows how these homely metaphors constitute the ‘debt delusion’: a set of plausible-sounding yet false ideas that have been used to justify damaging austerity policies. John Weeks debunks these myths, explaining the true story behind public spending, taxation, and debt, and their real function in the management of our economies. He demonstrates that disputes about public finances are not primarily technical matters best left to specialists and experts, as many politicians would have us believe, but rather fundamentally questions about our true political priorities. Requiring no prior economic knowledge, this is an ideal primer for anyone wishing to cut through the rhetoric and misinformation that dominate political debates on economics and become an informed citizen.Trade Review"This book provides a much needed expose of austerity policies"—John McDonnell MP "The Debt Delusion is a reminder that public policy matters are key to a thriving economy. At a time when politicians are promising big public spending projects, we would be wise to read it."—Daniel Fisher, Financial Times Adviser "Analytically brilliant; crystal clear writing; forensic in its investigation; entertaining and erudite. If you want to know what the alternative to austerity is, there is no better guide."—Danny Dorling, University of Oxford "John Weeks is one of the most incisive critics of austerity policy. In this book, he shows, in clear, non-technical language, how the mythology of 'balancing the books' has subverted public understanding of the social and economic purpose of state budgets, allowing governments to inflict serious, unnecessary, and possibly lasting damage on ordinary citizens."—Lord Robert Skidelsky, Warwick University and the British Academy "John Weeks is a distinguished and worldly economist who, long before it became fashionable, rigorously and to devastating effect contested the intellectual foundations of neoliberal economics. His generosity in sharing his deep knowledge of economic theory, policies and systems has inspired and motivated many thousands of students, policy makers and activists. His work in discrediting the the policies of austerity laid the foundations on which Labour's Corbyn movement was built and popularised."—Ann Pettifor, Director, Prime Economics "Austerity is one of the greatest deceptions foisted on the British public in modern history. It was based on ideological economics designed to accelerate the dismantling of the social state and the privatisation of the commons. John Weeks has been a consistent principled critic since the austerity era was launched. His scorn should be welcomed."—Guy Standing, SOAS University of London "John Weeks has been one of the most powerful critics of mainstream Neoclassical economics and of neo-liberal economic policies in the last few decades. His analyses are razor-sharp and his criticisms unsparing, but he uses them to propose ways to build a solidaristic economy and a compassionate society."—Ha-Joon Chang, University of Cambridge "John Weeks has been a vigorous campaigner against the fallacies of neo-liberal economics. He is a model to us all in his energy and resilience in making the case for a more progressive economics and promoting an alternative approach to economic policy making that is sorely needed. He draws on his long and valuable experience in teaching, research and advising governments around the world. It is a tribute to his influence and his clarity of exposition that his students are now taking his ideas forward both at home and abroad."—Susan Himmelweit, Open University "[This] is an excellent book for open-minded people who want to know how public finance actually works."—ChoiceTable of ContentsIntroduction: Debt, Deficits and Austerity Chapter 1: We must live within our means Chapter 2: Governments must balance their books Chapter 3: We must tighten our belts Chapter 4: Don’t go into debt Chapter 5: Taxes are a burden Chapter 6: Austerity: There is no alternative Chapter 7: Always an alternative

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘Governments should spend no more than their tax income.’ Most people in Europe and North America accept this statement as simple common sense. It resonates with the deeply engrained economic metaphors that dominate public discourse, from ‘living within your means’ to ‘balancing the budget’ – all necessary, or so conventional wisdom holds, to avoid the dangers of debt, taxation and financial ruin. This book shows how these homely metaphors constitute the ‘debt delusion’: a set of plausible-sounding yet false ideas that have been used to justify damaging austerity policies. John Weeks debunks these myths, explaining the true story behind public spending, taxation, and debt, and their real function in the management of our economies. He demonstrates that disputes about public finances are not primarily technical matters best left to specialists and experts, as many politicians would have us believe, but rather fundamentally questions about our true political priorities. Requiring no prior economic knowledge, this is an ideal primer for anyone wishing to cut through the rhetoric and misinformation that dominate political debates on economics and become an informed citizen.Trade Review"This book provides a much needed expose of austerity policies"—John McDonnell MP "The Debt Delusion is a reminder that public policy matters are key to a thriving economy. At a time when politicians are promising big public spending projects, we would be wise to read it."—Daniel Fisher, Financial Times Adviser "Analytically brilliant; crystal clear writing; forensic in its investigation; entertaining and erudite. If you want to know what the alternative to austerity is, there is no better guide."—Danny Dorling, University of Oxford "John Weeks is one of the most incisive critics of austerity policy. In this book, he shows, in clear, non-technical language, how the mythology of 'balancing the books' has subverted public understanding of the social and economic purpose of state budgets, allowing governments to inflict serious, unnecessary, and possibly lasting damage on ordinary citizens."—Lord Robert Skidelsky, Warwick University and the British Academy "John Weeks is a distinguished and worldly economist who, long before it became fashionable, rigorously and to devastating effect contested the intellectual foundations of neoliberal economics. His generosity in sharing his deep knowledge of economic theory, policies and systems has inspired and motivated many thousands of students, policy makers and activists. His work in discrediting the the policies of austerity laid the foundations on which Labour's Corbyn movement was built and popularised."—Ann Pettifor, Director, Prime Economics "Austerity is one of the greatest deceptions foisted on the British public in modern history. It was based on ideological economics designed to accelerate the dismantling of the social state and the privatisation of the commons. John Weeks has been a consistent principled critic since the austerity era was launched. His scorn should be welcomed."—Guy Standing, SOAS University of London "John Weeks has been one of the most powerful critics of mainstream Neoclassical economics and of neo-liberal economic policies in the last few decades. His analyses are razor-sharp and his criticisms unsparing, but he uses them to propose ways to build a solidaristic economy and a compassionate society."—Ha-Joon Chang, University of Cambridge "John Weeks has been a vigorous campaigner against the fallacies of neo-liberal economics. He is a model to us all in his energy and resilience in making the case for a more progressive economics and promoting an alternative approach to economic policy making that is sorely needed. He draws on his long and valuable experience in teaching, research and advising governments around the world. It is a tribute to his influence and his clarity of exposition that his students are now taking his ideas forward both at home and abroad."—Susan Himmelweit, Open University "[This] is an excellent book for open-minded people who want to know how public finance actually works."—ChoiceTable of ContentsIntroduction: Debt, Deficits and Austerity Chapter 1: We must live within our means Chapter 2: Governments must balance their books Chapter 3: We must tighten our belts Chapter 4: Don’t go into debt Chapter 5: Taxes are a burden Chapter 6: Austerity: There is no alternative Chapter 7: Always an alternative

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe idea that the people have a right to shape political decisions through democratic means is widely accepted. The same cannot be said of the decisions that impact on our everyday economic life in the workplace and beyond. Andrew Cumbers shows why this is wrong, and why, in the context of the rising tide of populism and the perceived crisis of liberal democracy, economic democracy's time has come. Four decades of market deregulation, financialisation, economic crisis and austerity has meant a loss of economic control and security for the majority of the world's population. The solution must involve allowing people to 'take back control' of their economic lives. Cumbers goes beyond older traditions of economic democracy to develop an ambitious new framework that includes a traditional concern with workplace rights and collective bargaining, but shifts the focus to include consideration of individual economic rights and processes of public engagement and deliberation beyond the workplace. This topical and original book will be essential reading for anyone interested in radical solutions for our economic and political crises.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction Chapter One: A Brief History of Economic Democracy as Industrial Democracy Chapter Two: The Three Pillars of Economic Democracy Chapter Three: Putting Economic Democracy into Practice Conclusion Notes References

Read more less

Book SynopsisWith protectionist sentiment and economic nationalism on the rise, international trade and how it is governed is at the heart of some of the most important contemporary economic and political debates. Comprehensive and clear, this book skilfully outlines and analyses the dynamics of trade in the 21st century. Ken Heydon examines three broad themes: the nature and distribution of the gains from trade, the institutional and governance framework of the international trade system, and the contentious practical issues confronting policy-makers across the world. He considers pressing contemporary debates surrounding issues ranging from agriculture and food security to the links between trade and environment protection, core labour standards and intellectual property rights. He demonstrates the importance of a change of mindset in terms of how we see trade policy: it should not, he argues, be simply a question of international negotiation, but also a key component of sound domestic economic management. In short, we need to put commerce in context. Drawing on the author’s experience as a policy practitioner, trade policy analyst and teacher, the volume is informed by an extensive analysis of the literature and by relevant case studies. It is designed for students and scholars of international political economy and trade policy, trade officials, and the general public.Trade Review"[A] well-written introduction to the world trading system as it actually exists today"Foreign Affairs"At a time of instability and change in the multilateral trading order, the issues raised by this book deserve critical, ongoing consideration."Journal of Australian Political EconomyTable of ContentsList of Case Studies List of Figures Abbreviations Structure: The Building Blocks Introduction: Echoes of Mercantilism Part 1: The Gains from Trade: Winners and Losers Chapter 1: The Political Economy of Trade: The Domestic Setting Chapter 2: Trade, Growth and Development Chapter 3: Trade, Investment and the Global Value Chain Part 2: The Institutional Framework Chapter 4: The Systemic Threats to the Multilateral Trading Order Chapter 5: The Rise of Preferential Trade Agreements Part 3: Confronting the Issues Chapter 6: Distortions to Trade in Manufactures Chapter 7: The Special Case of Agriculture Chapter 8: Negotiating Services and Investment Chapter 9: Competition Policy and the Role of the Firm Chapter 10: Trade Links to Environment, Labour Standards and Property Rights Conclusion: Putting Commerce in Context Acknowledgements Notes References Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisAusterity has been at the center of political controversy following the 2008 financial crisis, invoked by politicians and academics across the political spectrum as the answer to, or cause of, our post-crash economic malaise. However, despite being the cause of debate for more than three centuries, austerity remains a poorly understood concept. In this book, Suzanne J. Konzelmann aims to demystify austerity as an economic policy, a political idea, and a social phenomenon. Beginning with an analysis of political and socioeconomic history from the seventeenth century, she explains the economics of austerity in the context of the overall dynamics of state spending, tax, and debt. Using comparative case studies from around the world, ranging from the 1930s to post-2008, she then evaluates the outcomes of austerity in light of its stated objectives and analyzes the conditions under which it doesn’t – and occasionally does – work. This accessible introduction to austerity will be essential reading for students and scholars of political economy, economics, and politics, as well as all readers interested in current affairs.Trade Review“Suzanne J. Konzelmann’s book is an incredibly valuable contribution to the growing backlash against austerity. The broad and rich historical and international perspective confirms that these pernicious policies have a track record of failure.”Geoff Tily, senior economist, Trades Union Congress “In the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis, austerity policies were imposed in many countries, with results ranging from disappointing to disastrous. Konzelmann shows how the logic of austerity was fundamentally undermined by the emergence of the welfare state in the twentieth century. Austerity policies threaten the automatic stabilizing effects of a large welfare state, and are therefore counterproductive.”John Quiggin, University of QueenslandTable of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Shifting Responses to the Evolution of National Debt and the Economic Role of the State Chapter 3 National Accounting and the Economics of Austerity Chapter 4 Selling Austerity – Economics, Politics and Society Chapter 5 Austerity and Welfare – An Unstable Mixture: Britain, Germany & the United States between the Wars Chapter 6 Austerity (and Stimulus) in Post-war Chile, America, Ireland and Japan Chapter Some have Austerity thrust upon them, Others Embrace it: Ireland, Greece and the United Kingdom after the 2008 crisis Chapter 8 Post-2008 Variations on Austerity: Iceland and the United States Chapter 9 Austerity’s political economic, ideological and socio-cultural dimensions Chapter 10 Conclusions Notes References

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Final Report of the IPPR Commission on Economic Justice The UK economy is broken. It no longer provides rising living standards for the majority. Young people face an increasingly insecure future. The gap between rich and poor areas is widening. Meanwhile the rise of giant digital companies, the advance of automation, and catastrophic environmental degradation challenge the very foundations of our economic model. This important book analyses these profound challenges and sets out a bold vision for change. The report of a group of leading figures from across British society, it explains how the deep weaknesses of the UK economy reflect profound imbalances of economic power. Its radical policy agenda for the 2020s includes new missions to drive productivity and innovation, an overhaul of our financial system, and reforms to improve wages, job quality and the redistribution of wealth. Ten years after the financial crisis, as the UK confronts the challenge of Brexit, this is an urgent and compelling account of the reforms needed to build a new economy of prosperity, justice and environmental sustainability. It will set the terms of political and economic debate for years to come.Trade Review"The Commission makes an irrefutable case that British economic performance must improve, and then suggests a suite of original initiatives aimed at doing just that - Overall this is the most impressive, authoritative and compelling economic analysis and accompanying prescriptions in recent times."—Will Hutton, Principal of Hertford College Oxford and Observer columnist "An inspiration for all those in the UK and elsewhere who are trying to chart a new course for inclusive prosperity."—Dani Rodrik, Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy, Harvard UniversityTable of ContentsPreface The IPPR Commission on Economic Justice Note and Acknowledgements Introduction and overview Part I: Building the new economy Chapter 1: The economy today Chapter 2: Prosperity and justice: a new vision for the economy Chapter 3: Reshaping the economy Chapter 4: Partnership and power Chapter 5: Time for change Part II: Our 10-part plan Chapter 6: Reshaping the economy through industrial strategy Chapter 7: Securing good pay, good jobs and good lives Chapter 8: Turning business towards long-term success Chapter 9: Promoting open markets in the new economy Chapter 10: Raising public investment in a reformed macroeconomic framework Chapter 11: Strengthening the financial system Chapter 12: Spreading wealth and ownership across the economy Chapter 13: Designing simpler and fairer taxes Chapter 14: Ensuring environmental sustainability Chapter 15: Creating a new economic constitution Endnotes

Read more less

Book SynopsisConsumption used to be a disease. Now it is the dominant manner in which most people meet their most basic needs and – if they can afford the price – their wildest desires. In this new book, Ian and Mark Hudson critically examine how consumption has been understood in economic theory before analyzing its centrality to our social lives and function in contemporary capitalism. They also outline the consequences it has for people and nature, consequences routinely made invisible in the shopping mall or online catalogue. Hudson and Hudson show, in an approachable manner, how patterns of consumption are influenced by cultures, individual preferences and identity formation before arguing that underlying these determinants is the unavoidable need within capitalism to realize profit. This accessible and comprehensive book will be essential reading for students and scholars of political economy, economics and economic sociology, as well as any reader who wants to confront their own practices of consumption in a meaningful way.Trade Review“This book invites readers on a lively tour across the terrain of consumption in a briskly paced guide to mainstream economic theory and critical political economy. It is a highly engaging book that will appeal to those wishing to secure a deeper understanding of what it means to consume.”Bruce Pietrykowski, University of Michigan "It is a sign of the consumer fetishism that pervades our society that good poiltical-economic works on consumption that do not simply fall prey to their subject matter and that retain a critical perspective are extremely hard to find. This book, though clearly written for classroom use, belongs in the same broad tradition as Thorstein Veblen’s The Theory of the Leisure Class, John Kenneth Galbraith’s The Affluent Society, Michael Dawson’s The Consumer Trap, and Naomi Klein’s No Logo. Highly recommended."John Bellamy Foster, author of The Return of Nature: Socialism and Ecology

Read more less

Book SynopsisConsumption used to be a disease. Now it is the dominant manner in which most people meet their most basic needs and – if they can afford the price – their wildest desires. In this new book, Ian and Mark Hudson critically examine how consumption has been understood in economic theory before analyzing its centrality to our social lives and function in contemporary capitalism. They also outline the consequences it has for people and nature, consequences routinely made invisible in the shopping mall or online catalogue. Hudson and Hudson show, in an approachable manner, how patterns of consumption are influenced by cultures, individual preferences and identity formation before arguing that underlying these determinants is the unavoidable need within capitalism to realize profit. This accessible and comprehensive book will be essential reading for students and scholars of political economy, economics and economic sociology, as well as any reader who wants to confront their own practices of consumption in a meaningful way.Trade Review“This book invites readers on a lively tour across the terrain of consumption in a briskly paced guide to mainstream economic theory and critical political economy. It is a highly engaging book that will appeal to those wishing to secure a deeper understanding of what it means to consume.”Bruce Pietrykowski, University of Michigan "It is a sign of the consumer fetishism that pervades our society that good poiltical-economic works on consumption that do not simply fall prey to their subject matter and that retain a critical perspective are extremely hard to find. This book, though clearly written for classroom use, belongs in the same broad tradition as Thorstein Veblen’s The Theory of the Leisure Class, John Kenneth Galbraith’s The Affluent Society, Michael Dawson’s The Consumer Trap, and Naomi Klein’s No Logo. Highly recommended."John Bellamy Foster, author of The Return of Nature: Socialism and Ecology

Read more less

Book SynopsisLooming trade wars and rising nationalism have stirred troubling memories of the 1930s. Will history repeat itself? Do we face the chaotic breakdown of the global economic system in the face of stagnation, protectionism and political tumult? Jeremy Green argues that, although we face grave problems, globalization is not about to end. Setting today’s challenges within a longer historical context, he demonstrates that the global economy is more interconnected than ever before and the costs of undoing it high enough to make a complete breakdown unlikely. Popular analogies between the 1930s and today are misleading. But the governing liberal ideology of globalisation is changing. It is mutating into a hard-edged nationalism that defends free markets while reasserting sovereignty and strengthening borders. This ‘national liberalism’ threatens a much more dangerous disintegration, fuelled by inequality and ecological crisis, unless we radically rethink the international status quo. This brilliantly original account of the discontents of globalization is a must-read both for concerned citizens and students of global political economy.Table of ContentsChapter One: The crisis of globalization Chapter Two: Globalization’s four liberalisms Chapter Three: Why we are not in the 1930s Chapter Four: Neoliberalism unravelling Chapter Five: Planning of the Anthropocene Chapter Six: Global futures

Read more less

Book SynopsisLooming trade wars and rising nationalism have stirred troubling memories of the 1930s. Will history repeat itself? Do we face the chaotic breakdown of the global economic system in the face of stagnation, protectionism and political tumult? Jeremy Green argues that, although we face grave problems, globalization is not about to end. Setting today’s challenges within a longer historical context, he demonstrates that the global economy is more interconnected than ever before and the costs of undoing it high enough to make a complete breakdown unlikely. Popular analogies between the 1930s and today are misleading. But the governing liberal ideology of globalisation is changing. It is mutating into a hard-edged nationalism that defends free markets while reasserting sovereignty and strengthening borders. This ‘national liberalism’ threatens a much more dangerous disintegration, fuelled by inequality and ecological crisis, unless we radically rethink the international status quo. This brilliantly original account of the discontents of globalization is a must-read both for concerned citizens and students of global political economy.Table of ContentsChapter One: The crisis of globalization Chapter Two: Globalization’s four liberalisms Chapter Three: Why we are not in the 1930s Chapter Four: Neoliberalism unravelling Chapter Five: Planning of the Anthropocene Chapter Six: Global futures

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat is life like for workers in the gig economy? Is it a paradise of flexibility and individual freedom? Or is it a world of exploitation and conflict? Callum Cant took a job with one of the most prominent platforms, Deliveroo, to find out. His vivid account of the reality is grim. Workers are being tyrannised by algorithms and exploited for the profit of the few – but they are not taking it lying down. Cant reveals a transnational network of encrypted chats and informal groups which have given birth to a wave of strikes and protests. Far from being atomised individuals helpless in the face of massive tech companies, workers are tearing up the rulebook and taking back control. New developments in the workplace are combining to produce an explosive subterranean class struggle – where the stakes are high, and the risks are higher. Riding for Deliveroo is the first portrait of a new generation of working class militants. Its mixture of compelling first-hand testimony and engaging analysis is essential for anyone wishing to understand class struggle in platform capitalism.Trade Review"This is a timely and insightful discussion of the conditions faced by gig economy workers. Powerfully written and politically urgent, it should be essential reading for anybody looking to understand - and to challenge - precarity in the age of platform capitalism." Helen Hester, University of West London “Riding for Deliveroo is a must read for those interested in the gig economy, providing a powerful argument for how work can be transformed today.” Jamie Woodcock, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford “Riding for Deliveroo provides a compelling and insightful account of the labour struggles at the front lines of the gig economy, deftly weaving individual stories of worker resistance into a rigorous theoretical analysis of modern-day capitalism.” Wendy Liu"Essential reading."Morning Star"interesting and encouraging"Transfer: European Review of Labour and ResearchTable of ContentsContents Acknowledgements Preface 1. Introduction 2. The Job 3. The System of Control 4. A Short History of Precarious Militants 5. The Workers 6. The Strikes 7. Looking Forward 8. A New Wave 9. Conclusion

Read more less

Book SynopsisDespite its oil wealth, the Middle East and North Africa is economically stagnating. Growth rates are comparatively unfavorable and insufficient to substantially improve citizens’ lives. Whether this economic inertia can be overcome or will continue into the indefinite future is a vital question that confronts both the region and the world. In this book leading Middle East scholar Robert Springborg discusses the economic future of this region by examining the national and regional political causes of its contemporary underperformance. Overgrown, weak MENA states, he explains, have been unable to escape their unfavorable historical legacies. “Limited access orders” and the deep states based in the means of coercion that underpin them undermine state capacities and constrain beneficial, autonomous political and economic activity. Increasingly challenged by their populations, MENA states face the daunting and so far unmet challenge of diversifying non-sustainable, rentier political economies away from direct or indirect dependence on oil and gas revenues. Stagnation of those revenues and failure to generate alternative income sources, combined with rapid population growth, presents the region with an economic challenge that can only be overcome by profound political change.Trade Review�The state-of-the-art big picture analysis of where MENA is and how it got there.� Glenn E. Robinson, Naval Postgraduate School �Overcoming the rigid dichotomy between area studies and disciplinary social science, Robert Springborg has accomplished a rare feat: a theoretically grounded investigation of Middle East political economies that is nonetheless rooted in a deep understanding of national histories and social contexts. His investigation of deep states and �limited access orders� in the region will benefit both students and researchers for many years to come.� Steffen Hertog, London School of Economics and Political Science �A work of magisterial scope that simultaneously drills down into the bedrock of constraints and challenges that subvert prosperity in the Middle East today. Attuned to the political determinants of economic performance, Springborg�s book brings the reader completely up-to-date on region�s contemporary economic quandaries.� Eva Bellin, Brandeis UniversityTable of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter One: Accounting for Development in the MENA Chapter Two: The Origins of State Effectiveness Chapter Three: Colonialism, Post-Colonialism, Globalization and the State Chapter Four: Limited Access Orders and the Rise of Deep States Chapter Five: Deep States: Types, Resources and Impacts Chapter Six: Inclusion, Human Resources and State Power Chapter Seven: State Capacities for Economic Management Chapter Eight: The MENA -Regionalized but not Integrated Chapter Nine : Survival Strategies in Weaker MENA States Chapter Ten: Survival Strategies in Stronger MENA States Conclusion Selected Readings Notes

Read more less

Book SynopsisDespite its oil wealth, the Middle East and North Africa is economically stagnating. Growth rates are comparatively unfavorable and insufficient to substantially improve citizens’ lives. Whether this economic inertia can be overcome or will continue into the indefinite future is a vital question that confronts both the region and the world. In this book leading Middle East scholar Robert Springborg discusses the economic future of this region by examining the national and regional political causes of its contemporary underperformance. Overgrown, weak MENA states, he explains, have been unable to escape their unfavorable historical legacies. “Limited access orders” and the deep states based in the means of coercion that underpin them undermine state capacities and constrain beneficial, autonomous political and economic activity. Increasingly challenged by their populations, MENA states face the daunting and so far unmet challenge of diversifying non-sustainable, rentier political economies away from direct or indirect dependence on oil and gas revenues. Stagnation of those revenues and failure to generate alternative income sources, combined with rapid population growth, presents the region with an economic challenge that can only be overcome by profound political change.Trade Review�The state-of-the-art big picture analysis of where MENA is and how it got there.� Glenn E. Robinson, Naval Postgraduate School �Overcoming the rigid dichotomy between area studies and disciplinary social science, Robert Springborg has accomplished a rare feat: a theoretically grounded investigation of Middle East political economies that is nonetheless rooted in a deep understanding of national histories and social contexts. His investigation of deep states and �limited access orders� in the region will benefit both students and researchers for many years to come.� Steffen Hertog, London School of Economics and Political Science �A work of magisterial scope that simultaneously drills down into the bedrock of constraints and challenges that subvert prosperity in the Middle East today. Attuned to the political determinants of economic performance, Springborg�s book brings the reader completely up-to-date on region�s contemporary economic quandaries.� Eva Bellin, Brandeis UniversityTable of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter One: Accounting for Development in the MENA Chapter Two: The Origins of State Effectiveness Chapter Three: Colonialism, Post-Colonialism, Globalization and the State Chapter Four: Limited Access Orders and the Rise of Deep States Chapter Five: Deep States: Types, Resources and Impacts Chapter Six: Inclusion, Human Resources and State Power Chapter Seven: State Capacities for Economic Management Chapter Eight: The MENA -Regionalized but not Integrated Chapter Nine : Survival Strategies in Weaker MENA States Chapter Ten: Survival Strategies in Stronger MENA States Conclusion Selected Readings Notes

Read more less