Bibliograph

What's the economy for, anyway?, why it's time to stop chasing growth and start pursuing happiness, John de Graaf and David K. Batker ; foreword by James Gustave Speth

Type

Label

What's the economy for, anyway?, why it's time to stop chasing growth and start pursuing happiness, John de Graaf and David K. Batker ; foreword by James Gustave Speth

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references and index

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

What's the economy for, anyway?

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

707329323

Responsibility statement

John de Graaf and David K. Batker ; foreword by James Gustave Speth

Sub title

why it's time to stop chasing growth and start pursuing happiness

Summary

"What's The Economy For, Anyway? is a thought-provoking, funny, readable, anti-ideological book based on the cult hit film of the same name. Here, scholars John de Graaf (author of Affluenza) and David Batker tackle thirteen touchstone economic issues and challenge readers to consider just what the point of our economy is. Emphasizing powerful American ideals such as working together, pragmatism, and equality for all, de Graaf and Batker set forth a simple, powerful goal for any economic system: the greatest good for the greatest number, over the longest run. Their vision will appeal to a wide array of readers across traditional silos. Drawing from this nation's rich economic history, the book shows that the good life in America is achieved when people and markets work together with an active government to create a better economy, one that works for everyone, not just the privileged few. Beginning by taking our fetish for GDP and shattering it, the chapters touch on quality of life, health, security, time management, worklife, leisure, social justice, and perhaps most important, sustainability. This sparkling, message-driven book is exactly what we need: a guide to what really matters, and how we can use the resources of our economy to make the world a better place"--

Table Of Contents

1.The Grossest Domestic Product -- 2.The Pursuit of Happiness -- 3.Provisioning the Good Life -- 4.Unhealthy at Any Cost -- 5.Risky Business -- 6.The Time Squeeze -- 7.The Greatest Number -- 8.The Capacity Question -- 9.The Longest Run: Sustainability -- 10.Ancient History -- 11.When (or How) Good Went Bad -- 12.The Housing, Banking, Finance, Debt, Bankruptcy, Foreclosure, Unemployment, Currency ... Hell-of-a-Mess Crisis -- 13.Building a Twenty-first-Century Economy of Life, Liberty, and Happiness

Target audience

adult

resource.variantTitle

What is the economy for, anyway?

Classification