Direct: The Rise of the Middleman Economy and the Power of Going to the Source

Over the past thirty years, middlemen have taken control of the economy at the expense of the rest of us, providing an unprecedented degree of choice and convenience. Columbia law professor Kathryn Judge's book "Direct: The Rise of the Middleman Economy and the Future of Radical Change" shows how to fight back by going to the source of direct exchange, which fosters connection and community and promotes a more just, resilient, and accountable economic system.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 23 June 2022
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc

Over the past thirty years, middlemen have constructed intricate financial and retail empires capable of transporting goods across the country and around the world, transforming the economy and our lives. Because of middlemen, we enjoy an unprecedented degree of choice and convenience. However, the rise of the middleman economy comes at a steep price. In Direct, Columbia law professor Kathryn Judge demonstrates how overgrown middlemen became the backbone of modern capitalism and the cause of many of its ailments. Middlemen today shape what people do, how they invest, and what they consume. They use their troves of data to push people to buy more, and more expensive, products. They use their massive profits and expertise to lobby lawmakers, tilting the playing field in their favor. Drawing on a decade of research, Judge shows how to fight back: Go to the source. The process of direct exchange—and the resulting ecosystem of makers and consumers, investors and entrepreneurs—fosters connection and community and helps promote a more just, resilient, and accountable economic system. Direct exchange reminds us that our actions always and inevitably impact others, as it rekindles an appreciation of our inherent interconnectedness. As Judge reveals in this much-needed book, direct exchange is both the cornerstone of the solution and a tool for revealing just how much is at stake in decisions about "through whom" to buy, invest, and give.

Weight: 456g
Dimension: 161 x 235 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780063041974