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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
A brilliant, plain-English book about why the global economy is so lost. Chang joins the queue of neo-Keynesians (although the alternatives to the neoliberal disaster are only briefly outlined) calling for a rethink of how to organise the economy. The book's beauty is to show really how common sense it would be to get rid of the free market ideology. Hopefully an increasing number of voters in the West get that message.
Systematically dismantles perceived truths about capitalism.
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Současná západní společnost přísahá na neoliberální model ekonomiky, který za nezpochybnitelné dogma prohlašuje tzv. volný trh – ostatně i v Čechách svého času byla „neviditelná ruka trhu“ nedotknutelným božstvem. Ha-Joon Chang, jenž (snad díky svému původu) dokáže nahlédnout kapitalistickou ekonomiku západního střihu jaksi zvnějšku, vlastně vyslovuje, popisuje a zdůvodňuje jen to, co v posledních desetiletích začali vnímat mnozí: že volnotržní ekonomika přes všechny proklamace a teoretické ospravedlňování v mnoha směrech selhává. Ekonomiku volného trhu kriticky rozebírá z mnoha úhlů a velmi názorně ukazuje její nedostatky. Nenabádá ovšem k zavedení jakéhosi protikladného socialistického modelu, ale doporučuje řadu opatření, která by současný model dokázala zlepšit k prospěchu všech.
Accessible but useful debunking of the myths of free market economics. I don't know if it's been updated but it's slightly dated and there's lots of areas missing that really ought to be tackled in a newer version. Maybe for a different author though.
informative
fast-paced
Despite its Buzzfeed-y title this is a thoughtful, original intro to Chang's objections to free market economics and its woeful influence in recent decades.
informative
medium-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
This was an interesting read as I consider my self a layman when it comes to economics and politics. In America, we are deluded into believing that capitalism is what makes us a strong, successful country. The majority of people have a weak understanding of what capitalism is and how we are effected by it. We hear from economists and politicians praising this prevalent economic system and how free markets are the key to success...which is measured in profits.
This books points out:
~ There is no such thing as a free market.
~ Capitalism doesn't pay fairly. People in rich countries are paid more than they should be. The rich are paid well to do the white collar work while the poor are paid poorly to do the hard blue collar work.
~ American CEOs today are paid 10x more than those in the 1960s and 20x more than European and Asian CEOs. And not because they are more skilled, but because they have more political power. They come out ahead because they help make the rules...or undo them.
~ People think and say we all have the same opportunity, but the equality of opportunity is not fair.
~ Pro-rich policies have failed repeatedly. Trickle down economics do not work, they widen the gap between the rich and the poor.
This books points out:
~ There is no such thing as a free market.
~ Capitalism doesn't pay fairly. People in rich countries are paid more than they should be. The rich are paid well to do the white collar work while the poor are paid poorly to do the hard blue collar work.
~ American CEOs today are paid 10x more than those in the 1960s and 20x more than European and Asian CEOs. And not because they are more skilled, but because they have more political power. They come out ahead because they help make the rules...or undo them.
~ People think and say we all have the same opportunity, but the equality of opportunity is not fair.
~ Pro-rich policies have failed repeatedly. Trickle down economics do not work, they widen the gap between the rich and the poor.
I can't seem to stop reading books about the world economy. And how we really screwed it up. And boy, did we.