Capitalism for Realists: Virtues and Vices of the Modern Economy

Capitalism for Realists is a book that explores the inner workings of capitalism in a non-partisan and balanced way, addressing questions such as whether it alleviates poverty and exploitation, undermines democracy, or is a key necessary condition. It synthesizes decades of research across disciplines and presents and critically assesses the latest data and debates on contemporary issues. The book appeals to undergraduate and graduate students with interests in sociological theory, political theory, economics, and political and economic sociology.

Format: Hardback
Length: 178 pages
Publication date: 18 November 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In a time of profound political polarization and a decline in reasoned discourse across political lines, Capitalism for Realists delves into the intricate workings of capitalism in a deliberately non-partisan and balanced manner. Does the modern capitalist economy alleviate poverty and exploitation, or does it exacerbate them? What exactly is 'neoliberalism,' and how well or poorly has it performed in the past 40 years? Does capitalism undermine democracy, or is it rather one of its key necessary conditions? How have altruism, cooperation, tolerance, violence, and trust fared under the influence of the modern market society? Should we analyze capitalism through the mainstream economic lens or a more critical Marxist perspective? This book offers answers to these questions.

Synthesizing decades of research across disciplines, Capitalism for Realists provides an overarching perspective on the modern economy by theoretically unifying many of the claims and conclusions about it offered by various traditionally rivalrous social science paradigms, such as institutional, neoclassical, and public choice economics on the one hand, and Marxist sociology on the other. The book presents and critically assesses the latest data and debates on such crucial contemporary issues as the relationship between poverty, exploitation, inequality, and capitalism, the nature of 'neoliberalism and the successes and failures of both state-led industrial policy and the Washington consensus, capitalist peace theory, historical origins of modern capitalism, and more. What emerges is a clear picture of the merits and demerits of the modern economy too nuanced to be simplified and categorized by the prevailing political discourses.

Rich in empirical detail, this lively, accessible book will appeal to undergraduate and graduate students, policymakers, business executives, and anyone interested in understanding the complex dynamics of the modern economy.

Weight: 510g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032305912