iU3A Re-thinking Economics Book Group Books Read between January 2019 and January 2020
Please note that not every member has read every book! Sometimes we choose one book, other times we choose a topic and, between us, read several.
Topic When Title Author
2019
The need for January Doughnut Economics Kate Raworth rethinking economics
Beliefs about the February The Production of Money Ann Pettifor nature of money
The Joy of Tax Richard Murphy
Debt: the first 5000 years David Graeber
The dangers of March Austerity: (The History of a Mark Blyth unexamined beliefs Dangerous Idea) being turned into policy
Introducing systems April The Fifth Discipline: the art Peter Senge science, chaos and and practice of the learning complexity theory (to organisation reflect on the paradigm different James Gleick economists are Chaos: Making a New Science working in)
Andy Haldane; JB Rosser; Plus papers linking these to Jon Sterman; Joeri economics Schasfoort; Stevan Durlauf; Jon Palin; Alan Mills. The role of the State May Rethinking capitalism: An Michael Jacobs and in developing green introduction Mariana Mazzucato futures
The Entrepreneurial State Marianna Mazzucato
Heat, Need and Greed: Climate change, Capitalism add Ian Gough Sustainable Wellbeing
A sociologist’s view of June The Future Of Capitalism Paul Collier today’s capitalism
Lighter reading and Summer 1 23 things they don’t tell you Ha Joon Chang looking wider than about capitalism, and (July) the West Economics : the users guide, and Bad Samaritans: Guilty secrets of the rich nations and
the threat to global security.
The Globalisation paradox and Economics Rules Dani Rodrik
An alternative to Summer 2 Bildung in the 21st Century: Jonathan Rowson, part conventional Growth Why sustainable prosperity of an essay series from (August) depends on re-imagining Tim Jackson’s Centre for education. Understanding Sustainable Prosperity.
Exploring the September Good New Idea: the case for a John Lanchester Universal Basic universal basic income.
Income London Review of Books
Pathways towards economic security and a universal basic Anthony Painter income. RSA ‘Fireworks meeting’: October The IMF annual report, discussed in the FT. Everyone enthuses about a book they Surveillance Capitalism, have read. Shoshana Zuboff Red Plenty, Francis Spufford. Amartya Sen’s early work. Guardian: Brexit is a necessary crisis, it reveals Britain’s true place in the world. David Edgerton. Stolen, Grace Blakely. The way we eat now. Bee Wilson.
The Nobel prize November Poor economics: a radical Abhijit Banerjee and winning rethinking of the way to fight Esther Duflo ‘Randomistas’. global poverty
Climate Catastrophe: December On fire: the burning case for Naomi Klein is it possible to find a Green New Deal and solution that is This Changes Everything equitable and Prosperity Without Growth inclusive; sustainable; Tim Jackson and politically acceptable to both right and left?
2020
Revisiting Keynes January Money and Government: a Robert Skidelski challenge to mainstream
economics. David Graeber Against Economics, review of the Skidelski book (and much besides) - The New York Review of Books
The role of the February The Finance Curse Nicholas Shaxson financial industry Systems of Survival Jane Jacobs