Capitalism and Crises: How to Fix Them

Capitalism and Crises explains how capitalism can solve climate, droughts, floods, energy, food, and pandemics by understanding the nature of the business and profit as the key driver. It provides an inspiring and motivational roadmap for practitioners, policymakers, consumers, employees, communities, students, and citizens to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 11 January 2024
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The world faces a multitude of crises, including climate change, droughts, floods, energy shortages, food insecurity, and pandemics, among others. While these challenges are complex and interconnected, there is a solution to address them. Capitalism and Crises delves into how capitalism can play a pivotal role in resolving these crises. The book argues that rather than causing these problems, capitalism has the potential to solve them. The reason behind this is a misconception about the nature of capitalism. We have failed to understand the central institution at the heart of capitalism: the business. As a result, we have allowed businesses to both cause and solve problems.

This book aims to rectify this misunderstanding by providing a comprehensive explanation of how the capitalist system operates, where it fails, and why. It demonstrates that the core problem lies in the pursuit of profit, which has become the primary driver of capitalism. Profit comes from both causing and solving problems, but it must not be the sole focus if we are to prevent further crises.

To address this issue, Mayer draws on a wide range of disciplines, including history, philosophy, psychology, biology, economics, law, and finance. He examines what has gone wrong with the current system and proposes solutions to rectify it. He sets out the significant challenges that capitalism must confront and provides guidance on how it can address them effectively. Mayer emphasizes the role of financial institutions in this process, advocating for their transformation to become the driving force behind solving problems and creating shared prosperity.

Furthermore, he discusses the importance of collaboration between the public sector and the private sector, recognizing that both sectors have a role to play in addressing the challenges of the 21st century. Capitalism and Crises offers an inspiring and motivational roadmap for practitioners, policymakers, consumers, employees, communities, students, and citizens of the world to come together and tackle the challenges of the 21st century. By embracing the principles of capitalism and collaborating towards a common purpose, we can thrive and survive in a rapidly changing world.

In conclusion, Capitalism and Crises provides a valuable perspective on how capitalism can be used to solve the world's crises. By understanding the nature of capitalism and the role of businesses, we can transform the system into a force for positive change. Through collaboration and innovation, we can create a more sustainable and prosperous future for all.

Weight: 536g
Dimension: 220 x 145 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198887942