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As usual in a book of this sort, the author lays out a clear and persuasive definition of the problems of a free market in the first half and offers concrete examples of various approaches to solutions in the second half. What seems like a quick read initially bears more fruit on careful perusal. Patel points out (preaching to the choir, in my case) the cost of externalities that are not sufficiently compensated in a free market economy. An externality exists if the price of a transaction does not cover all the social and environmental costs that are involved in it. For example, a fast-food hamburger should cost $200 if all the externalized costs were accounted for. If you are already familiar with many of the problems created by capitalistic, market driven economies you may still welcome the reminder of what has real value (clean air and water, anyone? the commons?). He is very good at laying out the flaws in our economic and political system (profit-driven markets do not deliver authentic value) as well as major errors in how many people think about what they value as opposed to what something costs. What price can be assigned to important values like compassion, altruism, love, community, fairness? He is clearly an activist as well as an intellectual. His solutions to the urgent problems he identifies include many inspiring examples of community organizing and fresh thinking. A hopeful, positive book overall.

2023-06-04 05:17