Betrayal of Liberal Economics

The Betrayal of Liberal Economics by Amos Witztum challenges the sovereignty of individuals and the powers of the markets, arguing that the collective should play a more significant role in social and economic life. He critiques mainstream economics as a way of thinking and provides guiding principles for economic and social organization. The book explores the nature of human sociality and the concept of social distance, and considers whether modern economics can accommodate such sociality while maintaining competitive decentralization.

Format: Hardback
Length: 815 pages
Publication date: 06 June 2019
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This comprehensive multi-book set encompasses both volumes of The Betrayal of Liberal Economics by Amos Witztum. The notion of individual sovereignty and the empowering forces of markets have led to a universal and ethically neutral understanding of social and economic organization. This groundbreaking text challenges the very purpose of society and the role of economics within it. It argues that the absence of a benevolent natural order necessitates a reevaluation of the collective's role in social and economic life. Drawing upon significant figures who have shaped the evolution of social and economic thought, the author critically examines mainstream economics as a way of thinking and as a source of guiding principles for economic and social organization.

While Volume I delves into how economics' paradigmatic core betrayed us through its false promise, Volume II begins to explore whether the current status quo may, in fact, be a result of the academic community's betrayal of economics. The author begins by examining the nature of human sociality and the concept of the "individual" in both liberal classical and modern economics. He then addresses the organizational implications of these conclusions, employing the concept of "social distance." The author further considers whether modern economics can accommodate such sociality while maintaining the same organizational principle of competitive decentralization as the universal recipe for economic organization.

The text concludes by examining whether the fault lies in the misconception of modern economics as a linear intellectual progression from liberal classical economics. To achieve this, the author undertakes a novel re-examination of liberal classical economics by developing Adam Smith's theory. This comprehensive exploration provides readers with a deep understanding of the complexities and nuances of economic thought, challenging prevailing narratives and offering new perspectives on the role of economics in shaping our world.

Weight: 1312g
Dimension: 160 x 220 x 57 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030112431
Edition number: 1st ed. 2019