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Economics After Capitalism

Economics After Capitalism

A Guide to the Ruins and a Road to the Future

by Derek Wall

Challenging the mainstream consensus on economics, Wall evokes popular radical economists to provide an eco-socialist alternative to capitalism.

'There is no alternative' has been the unofficial mantra of the neoliberal order since its utterance by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. However, there is an alternative to our crisis-ridden, austerity-inflicted world - and not just one alternative, but many.

Challenging the arguments for markets, mainstream economics and capitalism from Adam Smith onwards, Economics After Capitalism provides a step-by-step guide to various writers, movements and schools of thought, critical of neoliberal globalisation. These range from Keynesian-inspired reformists such as Geroge Soros and Joseph Stiglitz, critics of inequality like Thomas Piketty and Amaitya Sen, to more radical voices including Naomi Klein, Marxists such as David Harvey, anarchists, and autonomists including Toni Negri and Michael Hardt.

By providing a clear and accessible guide to the economics of anti-capitalism, Derek Wall successfully demonstrates that an open source eco-socialist alternative to rampant climate change, elite rule and financial chaos is not just necessary, but possible.

Derek Wall is the author of numerous books including Elinor Ostrom's Rules for Radicals (Pluto, 2017), Economics After Capitalism (Pluto, 2015), The Rise of the Green Left (Pluto, 2010) and The Sustainable Economics of Elinor Ostrom (Routledge, 2014). He teaches Political Economy at Goldsmiths College, University of London and was International Co-ordinator of the Green Party of England and Wales.

'A thoughtful and inspiring guide to capitalism and anti-capitalism. Drawing upon his experience as an economist he makes the most seemingly obscure ideas clear'

- Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion

'Funny, lateral and unique - an erudite Green primer on global justice'

- Matthew Tempest, the Guardian

'Derek Wall is one of the world's leading advocates of a synthesis between Red and Green. In this inspiring book, he articulates democratic, just and sustainable alternatives to the dominant planet-wrecking, pro-elite economics of free market capitalism'

- Peter Tatchell

'Usually the green perspective is simply tagged on to the red. Derek Wall is that rare breed: a real red-green hybrid. In this book, his eco-Marxism comes alive as he guides us through the major issues and leading theorists with a lightness of touch and personal warmth which makes even the most complicated of arguments accessible'

- Hilary Wainwright, co-editor of Red Pepper

'A crash course in critical economy. It disproves the notion that economics is boring or dense, partly because it approaches the subject in terms of human needs instead of dry statistics, and partly because of Wall's accessible writing style. Without over-simplification of ideas, he writes in a manner that laypersons can understand, throwing in a lot of examples from the real world and even touches of humour, to give hope that humans could organise their common life differently and better'

- Sally Bland, The Jordan Times

'This book is perfect for those who are beginners to economics in providing all the vital information that other books omit ...Wall has produced a user-friendly volume, free from heavy jargon, and he keeps things short and to the point'

- Morning Star

Foreword to the New Edition by David Bollier
Foreword to the First Edition by Nandor Tanczos
Acknowledgements
1. Warm Conspiracies and Cold Concepts
2. Vaccinating against Anti-Capitalism: Stiglitz, Soros and Friends
3. White Collar Global Crime Syndicate: Korten, Klein and Other Anti-Corporatists
4. Small Is Beautiful: Green Economics
5. Planet Earth Money Martyred: Social Credit, Positive Money and Monetary Reform
6. Imperialism Unlimited: Marxisms
7. The Tribe of Moles: Autonomism, Anarchism and Empire
8. Ecosocialist Alternatives: Marx's Ecology
9. Women of the World Unite: Feminist Economics
10. Life after Capitalism: Alternatives, Structures, Strategies
Bibliography
Index

Published by Pluto Press in Jun 2015
Paperback ISBN: 9780745335070
eBook ISBN: 9781783713035

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