Capitalism : the future of an illusion / Fred L. Block.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Block, Fred L., author.

Contributor:

Alumni and Friends Memorial Book Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States--Economic policy.

United States.

Economic policy.

United States--Politics and government.

Politics and government.

Capitalism--United States.

Capitalism.

Globalization--Economic aspects.

Globalization.

Physical Description:

viii, 252 pages ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

Oakland, California : University of California Press, [2018]

Summary:

"Since the 1980's, a particular definition of the United States and the global economy as being "capitalist" has become hegemonic. In this view, a capitalist economy is autonomous, coherent, and needs to be regulated by its own internal laws. This view is an illusion. The reality is that economies organized around the pursuit of private profit are contradictory, incoherent, and heavily intertwined with politics and governmental action. But the illusion remains hugely consequential because it has been embraced by political and economic elites who are convinced that they are powerless to change this system. The reality is that the continuing vitality of the U.S. and the world economy requires a new period of major reforms on the scale of the New Deal and the building of new global institutions after World War II"--Provided by publisher.

Contents:

The capitalist illusion

Elaborating an alternative

The illusion that democracy threatens the economy

The illusion that greed is good

The illusion of an unchanging system

The illusion of global order organized by capitalism

Beyond illusions.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 227-238) and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Alumni and Friends Memorial Book Fund.

Other Format:

Online version: Block, Fred L. Capitalism.

ISBN:

9780520283220

0520283228

9780520283237

0520283236

OCLC:

1005103070