Description
Book SynopsisSince U.S. President Reagan and U.K. Prime Minister Thatcher, a major ideology (under the name of economic science) has been expanded worldwide that claims that the best policies to stimulate human development are those that reduce the role of the state in economic and social lives: privatizing public services and public enterprises, deregulating the mobility of capital and labor, eliminating protectionism, and reducing public social protection. This ideology, called ''neoliberalism,'' has guided the globalization of economic activity and become the conventional wisdom in international agencies and institutions (such as the IMF, World Bank, World Trade Organization, and the technical agencies of the United Nations, including the WHO). Reproduced in the ''Washington consensus'' in the United States and the ''Brussels consensus'' in the European Union, this ideology has guided policies widely accepted as the only ones possible and advisable.This book assembles a series of articles that c
Trade Review"An impressive and comprehensive set of insights into the current state of globalization. This is an essential book for anyone who wants to know how and why neoliberalism has failed to deliver on its promises." -Jeff Faux, Founder and Distinguished Fellow, Economic Policy Institute, Washington, DC, Author, The Global Class War "Vicente Navarro has assembled a comprehensive, tightly argued, and powerfully supported set of contributions that demonstrate the links between neoliberalism, economic inequality, and health outcomes in a convincing and very timely fashion." -Andrew Glyn, Professor of Economics, Oxford University "These incisive essays dissecting neoliberal globalization provide highly significant information along with careful and penetrating analysis, subjecting claims of advocates and critics to the test of judiciously assembled empirical evidence. Moreover, they develop neglected perspectives that should prove invaluable to those seeking to dismantle illusions and deceptive presentations, and to discover the real human consequences of the dominant intellectual and policy paradigms of the past several decades. They are a very welcome contribution to the understanding of some of the most critical issues of the contemporary era. It is an outstanding work and a remarkably important book." -Noam Chomsky, Institute Professor, Retired, MIT "This book provides essential reading for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers wanting to understand the rapid social, health, and economic changes in today's world. It offers an excellent base for reflection on forces driving these changes as well as critical analyses of now widespread interpretations of their causes and consequences." -Walter Korpi, Professor of Social Policy, Swedish Institute for Social Research, Stockholm University "Never in our history have human beings enjoyed such good health; but never have so many persons suffered or died prematurely because of hunger, poverty, and avoidable diseases, and never have inequities in health been so deep and so evident. Vicente Navarro, internationally known as a champion of social justice, has assembled the best contributions from all over the world. This book appears at a time when health for all is being recognized as a fundamental human right and a touchstone of the civilization of any country. All those who work in this field may enjoy reading these essays and find a new stimulus for their activity." -Giovanni Berlinguer, Professor Emeritus, Sciences Faculty, University of Rome Member of the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health..."This important book is packed full of evidence that challenges conventional economic wisdom surrounding the issue of globalization. The contributors succeed in their purpose of raising the alarm about the consequences of neoliberal economic policies for human development. The issues the book raises are legitimate concerns for public health: It would be a tragedy if nobody listens", -Margaret Whitehead, The Lancet Volume 371, April 5, 2008."
Table of ContentsPART I What Is Neoliberalism?
Neoliberalism as a Class Ideology; Or, the Political Causes of the Growth of Inequalities Vicente Navarro
PART II Neoliberalism, Globalization, and the Welfare State Is Globalization Undermining the Welfare State? The Evolution of the Welfare State in Developed Capitalist Countries during the 1990's Vicente Navarro, John Schmitt, and Javier Astudillo
The Future of the Welfare State: Crisis Myths and Crisis Realities Francis G. Castles
PART III The Growth of Inequalities
Should We Worry about Inequality? Robert Hunter Wade
The Causes of Increasing World Poverty and Inequality; Or, Why the Matthew Effect Prevails Robert Hunter Wade
Is Globalization Reducing Poverty and Inequality? Robert Hunter Wade
PART IV Consequences of Neoliberalism and Globalization for Health and Quality of Life
The Scorecard on Development: 25 Years of Diminished Progress Mark Weisbrot, Dean Baker, and David Rosnick
The World Health Situation Vicente Navarro
PART V European Integration and Its Consequences for Health and Quality of Life
Economic Efficiency versus Social Equality? The U.S. Liberal Model versus the European Social Model Vicente Navarro and John Schmitt
Is the United States a Good Model for Reducing Social Exclusion in Europe? John Schmitt and Ben Zipperer
PART VI The Liberal Model in the United States and Its Social Consequences
Labor Markets and Economic Inequality in the United States Since the End of the 1970s John Schmitt
The Politics of Health Inequalities Research in the United States Vicente Navarro
PART VII The Situation in Latin America: Alternatives to Neoliberalism
An Alternative to the Neoliberal Model in Health: The Case of Venezuela Oscar Feo and Carlos Eduardo Siqueira
Venezuela's Barrio Adentro: An Alternative to Neoliberalism in Health Care Carles Muntaner, René M. Guerra Salazar, Joan Benach, and Francisco Armada
PART VIII The Consequences of Neoliberalism in Africa
The Dispossession of African Wealth at the Cost of Africa's Health Patrick Bond
Uneven Health Outcomes and Political Resistance under Residual Neoliberalism in Africa Patrick Bond and George Dor
The International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Africa: A "Disastrous" Record Demba Moussa Dembele
PART IX Analysis of Proposed Solutions to Current Health and Social Problems
A. Critiques of WHO Commissions
The Sachs Report: Investing in Health for Economic Development-Or Increasing the Size of the Crumbs from the Rich Man's Table? Alison Katz
Report of the WHO Commission on Macroeconomics and Health: A Critique Debabar Banerji
Assessment of the World Health Report 2000 Vicente Navarro
Serious Crisis in the Practice of International Health by the World Health Organization: The Commission on Social Determinants of Health Debabar Banerji
B. Critique of Neoliberal Solutions to World Poverty
A Critique of Jeffrey D. Sachs's The End of Poverty Doug Henwood
Meet the Contributors
Index
