BOOK: The Affluent Society Revisited
Click here to read the Table of Contents and Preface of The Affluent Society Revisited.
This book revisits John Kenneth Galbraith's classic text The Affluent Society in the context of the background to, and causes of, the global economic crisis that erupted in 2008. Each chapter takes a major theme of Galbraith's book, distils his arguments, and then discusses to what extent they cast light on current developments, both in developed economies and in the economics discipline. The themes include: inequality, insecurity, inflation, debt, consumer behaviour, financialization, the economic role of government ('social balance'), the power of ideas, the role of power in the economy, and the nature of the good society. It considers the current problems of capitalism and the huge challenges facing democratic governments in tackling them.
Written in non-technical language, this book is accessible to students of economics and the social sciences as well as to those who would have read The Affluent Society and the general reader interested in contemporary affairs and public policy.
REVIEWS OF THE AFFLUENT SOCIETY REVISITED
"Berry has written an accessible book for students of economics and the social sciences as well as for general readers interested in contemporary affairs and public policy ... Highly recommended." - CHOICE
"Students of economic history will find this a particularly useful volume as it is written in an exceptionally readable manner.This volume makes an important contribution to the literature on the economic history of advanced capitalism and its effects on the distribution of wealth within Western democracies. I have no hesitation in recommending this text to anyone, whether or not they are familiar with economics, with an interest in recent economic history and/or in the effects of changing economic policies on the structure of societies. Furthermore, anyone seeking an overview of the causes and consequences of the GFC will find The Affluent Society Revisited a useful reference." - Jenny Chesters, Economic Record
"Mike Berry’s retrospective on JKGs most famous book and its challenging propositions should be warmly welcomed. For people familiar with the original work, it combines a brisk walk down memory lane with a thought-provoking stroll back to the present. For newcomers to the field, it is a fine illustration of how political economy must engage with social concerns and matters of power and ethics." - Professor Frank Stilwell, University of Sydney
"This is a stimulating book, and not just because it leads us back to Galbraith's orginial work. Berry, like Galbraith, reminds us that orthodox economics does not 'adequately explain the human condition' and so makes a less than reliable guide for public policy." - Peter Mares, Australian Book Review
"Galbraith wrote provocative works in an easy-to-read style. They werent radical but they were controversial poking at conventional wisdom, a phrase he coined.Berry follows in his footsteps." - Dr. Anitra Nelson, Overland Literary Journal Online
"In a short concluding chapter Berry focuses on the positive legacies of AS and of Galbraith’s work more generally. Scorned or ignored by most of his professional peers, his critique of the failures of orthodox economics still has great resonance, even more perhaps in the light of the lamentable failures of analysis and policy prescription that the most recent economic crisis has revealed. His attempt to delineate actually existing capitalism rather than an idealized model of the real world and many aspects of what he discovered about it have abiding significance" - International Journal, Housing, Theory & Society
"An absolutely brilliant interpretation of John Kenneth Galbraith's ideas in the context of the 2008/9 Global Financial Crisis. What makes this book so special is the author's ability to combine razor-sharp analysis with an engaging narrative that brings to life what is often seen as 'dry' economic topics. this book is a must bread especially for US readers. I promise you won't be disappointed."
- Professor Manfred Steger, University of Hawaii and author of Globalization: A Short Introduction.
“Highly recommended. A most interesting book in which Berry critically revisits Galbraith's classic in the context of the contemporary global economic crisis. Expert discussion of the relevant economic literature that is stimulating, thought provoking and always readable."
- Michael Harloe, Emeritus Professor, University of Salford.
"This is a wonderful book. It revisits John Kenneth Galbraith's The Affluent Society as a vehicle for a review of contemporary economic thought and its policy applications whether for good or bad, the latter exemplified by the Global Financial Crisis."
- Professor Terry Burke, Swinburne University.
"This is an important, timely and accessible book: it is a delight to read. It comes at a time when economic policies seem poised for another revolutionary struggle to deal with moral and economic challenges to the idea - and even the very conception - of sustainable affluence and sustainable prosperity."
- Professor Chris Ryan, University of Melbourne.