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About this book
&i;'In this lucidly written, solidly grounded, and deeply informed study, Arthur MacEwan exposes the intellectual shallowness of the thesis that "There is No Alternative" (TINA), and reviews the historical and contemporary evidence that undermines it on empirical grounds. He shows that TINA is a specific array of social and economic programs crafted in the interests of narrow sectors of power and privilege. And further, that there definitely &o;are&i; alternatives that do not so radically undermine democracy and fundamental human rights.'&o; Noam Chomsky, Institute Professor, MIT
Contents
There are alternatives: neo-liberalism and alternatives; plan of the book; the political context of economic alternatives; the limits of state action. Part 1 Neoliberal myths and the meaning of markets: international commerce and economic development - the context -current globalization, neo-liberal theory, historical experience - a brief sketch, re-examining the theory of international trade and investment, globalization and development options; economic growth and the distribution of income - what's been happening to income distribution? the neo liberal justification of inequality, income inequality and economic growth - the record, why is relative income equality good for economic growth? income distribution and growth -the lessons; the social construction of markets - the construction of markets - illustrations, market basics, where markets come from - the role of the state, the role of markets in economic development. Part 2 A strategy for democratic economic development: the bases of a democratic alternative - definitions and context, democratic economic development, the context for alternatives; macroeconomic foundations of a democratic strategy - where can the money come from? the feasibility of higher taxes, the need for capital controls; social programmes as the core of a democratic strategy - the core of democratic development, education in a democratic development strategy, other social programmes and democratic development; democratic development and the shaping of private activity - some principles for directing the private sector, pushing towards the technological "high road", the value of local production. Conclusion: power and politics in the pursuit of democratic development, the agents of change, the globalization of politics.
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