Economics After Neoliberalism

How we can look beyond the tyranny of market logic in our public lives to reimagine the fundamentals of democracy. Bringing together thirty-two world-class economists, Economics After Neoliberalism offers a powerful case for a new brand of economics—one focused on power and inequality and aimed at a more inclusive society. Three prominent economists—Suresh Naidu, Dani Rodrik, and Gabriel Zucman—lead off with a vision for economic policy that stands as a genuine alternative to market fundamentalism. Contributors from across the spectrum expand on the state of creative ferment Naidu, Rodrik, and Zucman describe and offer new essays that challenge the current shape of markets and suggest more democratic alternatives. Contributors Samuel Bowles, Ethan Bueno de Mesquita, Oren Cass, William R. Easterly, Alice Evans, Amy Kapczynski, Robert Manduca, Suresh Naidu, Caleb Orr, Lenore Palladino, Margaret Peters, Corey Robin, Dani Rodrik, Debra Satz, Quinn Slobodian, Marshall Steinbaum, Arvind Subramanian, Gabriel Zucman.

The rise of economic liberalism in the latter stages of the 20th century coincided with a fundamental transformation of international economic governance, especially through the law of the World Trade Organization. In this book, Andrew Lang provides a new account of this transformation, and considers its enduring implications for international law. Against the commonly-held idea that 'neoliberal' policy prescriptions were encoded into WTO law, Lang argues that the last decades of the 20th century saw a reinvention of the international trade regime, and a reconstitution of its internal structures of knowledge. In addition, the book explores the way that resistance to economic liberalism was expressed and articulated over the same period in other areas of international law, most prominently international human rights law. It considers the promise and limitations of this form of 'inter-regime' contestation, arguing that measures to ensure greater collaboration and cooperation between regimes may fail in their objectives if they are not accompanied by a simultaneous destabilization of each regime's structures of knowledge and characteristic features. With that in mind, the book contributes to a full and productive contestation of the nature and purpose of global economic governance.

"Political economy themes have - directly and indirectly - been a central concern of law and legal scholarship ever since political economy emerged as a concept in the early seventeenth century, a development which was re-inforced by the emergence of political economy as an independent area of scholarly enquiry in the eighteenth century, as developed by the French physiocrats. This is not surprising in so far as the core institutions of the economy and economic exchanges, such as property and contract, are legal institutions.In spite of this intrinsic link, political economy discourses and legal discourses dealing with political economy themes unfold in a largely separate manner. Indeed, this book is also a reflection of this, in so far as its core concern is how the law and legal scholarship conceive of and approach political economy issues"--

One of the best books I have read in years about what it means to engage neoliberalism through a critical framework that highlights those narratives and stories that affirm both our humanity and our longing for justice. It should be read by everyone concerned with what it might mean to not only dream about democracy but to engage it as a lived experience and political possibility. - Henry Giroux, McMaster University "An important and original book that offers a fresh critique of neoliberalism and its contribution to the contemporary crisis of ‘voice’. Couldry’s own voice is clear and impassioned - an urgent must-read." - Rosalind Gill, King’s College London For more than thirty years neoliberalism has declared that market functioning trumps all other social, political and economic values. In this book, Nick Couldry passionately argues for voice, the effective opportunity for people to speak and be heard on what affects their lives, as the only value that can truly challenge neoliberal politics. But having voice is not enough: we need to know our voice matters. Insisting that the answer goes much deeper than simply calling for ′more voices′, whether on the streets or in the media, Couldry presents a dazzling range of analysis from the real world of Blair and Obama to the social theory of Judith Butler and Amartya Sen. Why Voice Matters breaks open the contradictions in neoliberal thought and shows how the mainstream media not only fails to provide the means for people to give an account of themselves, but also reinforces neoliberal values. Moving beyond the despair common to much of today′s analysis, Couldry shows us a vision of a democracy based on social cooperation and offers the resources we need to build a new post-neoliberal politics.

What does a just society look like? Do we have to accept modern capitalist society with all of its inequality? Is there another way to ensure prosperity and dignity for all? These are some of the questions A Just Society seeks to answer through a deep examination of the past and present of the two most important socio-economic systems, socialism and capitalism. Professor David Dasic, professor Emeritus at the University of Belgrade, looks at delves into the history of socialism in the USSR and Yugoslavia, analyzing how and why Soviet and Yugoslav socialism failed, while the current hybrid socio-economic system in China continues to prosper. Professor Dasic examines the transition from socialism into capitalism in Eastern European countries after the fall of the Iron Curtain and stresses aspects of socialism that outperformed their capitalist replacements. A Just Society challenges our understanding of political and economic systems as immutable gospel. Professor Dasic urges us to give up our rigid reliance on partisan terminology and to explore a world that merges the advantages of capitalism with the social benefits of socialism to create a truly just society with dignity for all. Straightforward and clear to any reader, laymen or expert, conservative or liberal, A Just Society is a must read for anyone interested in broadening their understanding of socio-economic realities, challenging their worldview, and re-imagining the future as a fairer and more equitable society with open opportunities to all.

"A co publication with the Social Science Research Council."

The period of past four decades has been characterized as one of neo-liberalism, financialization, globalization, privatization and de-regulation. Inequality has risen in industrialised countries, labour’s share in national income has been in decline and economic growth slowed. The evidence of the damage to the environment from human economic activity, and the dramatic consequences of failure to address climate change have become more apparent and urgent. The global financial crises shocked the complacency of the neo-liberal era, though a decade later it may be doubted how much has changed. The central purpose of this volume is to investigate a range of economic and social policies, which move in the direction of constructing a post-neoliberal world. These range over alternative forms of ownership (public, co-operative), policies to address and reverse economic and social inequalities, responses to the forces of globalization, re-constituting the financial system and its roles, and the nature of employment.

This books brings together in one volume contributions made to the public debate that has developed around the Kilburn Manifesto, a Soundings project first launched in spring 2013 that seeks to map the political, economic, social and cultural contours of neoliberalism. The manifesto opens with a framing statement that explores the meaning of neoliberalism and introduces the concept of conjunctural analysis. Each chapter then analyses a specific issue or theme. The aim is to call into question the neoliberal order itself, and find radical alternatives to its foundational assumptions.