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  • © 2021

Alternative Ideas from 10 (Almost) Forgotten Economists

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Convey an original presentation of ideas as applicable to contemporary real-world economic issues
  • Rejects classical economics and neoliberal policies
  • Provides a succinct overview of key economic figures and their relevance for a postcapitalist economy

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Table of contents (12 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
  2. Introduction

    • Irene van Staveren
    Pages 1-7
  3. Chapter 1: Karl Marx on Capitalism

    • Irene van Staveren
    Pages 9-30
  4. Chapter 2: Hyman Minsky on Financial Crises

    • Irene van Staveren
    Pages 31-47
  5. Chapter 3: John Maynard Keynes on Debt and Demand

    • Irene van Staveren
    Pages 49-63
  6. Chapter 4: Frank Knight on Risk and Uncertainty

    • Irene van Staveren
    Pages 65-78
  7. Chapter 5: Barbara Bergmann on Gender Biases

    • Irene van Staveren
    Pages 79-96
  8. Chapter 6: Thorstein Veblen on Inequality

    • Irene van Staveren
    Pages 97-115
  9. Chapter 7: Amartya Sen on Financial Capabilities

    • Irene van Staveren
    Pages 117-135
  10. Chapter 8: Gunnar Myrdal on Social Vulnerability

    • Irene van Staveren
    Pages 137-155
  11. Chapter 9: Adam Smith on the Abuse of Markets

    • Irene van Staveren
    Pages 157-175
  12. Chapter 10: Joan Robinson on Economic Pluralism

    • Irene van Staveren
    Pages 177-196
  13. Conclusion: Economics for a Postcapitalist Economy

    • Irene van Staveren
    Pages 197-204
  14. Back Matter

    Pages 205-211

About this book

How should we address today’s big problems, and what we can take from icons of economics past? How would John Maynard Keynes have resolved today’s debt problem, or how would Adam Smith have assessed the European carbon emission trading market? This book applies the ideas of ten renowned economists (Marx, Minsky, Keynes, Knight, Bergmann, Veblen, Sen, Myrdal, Smith, Robinson) to real world economic problems, directly or indirectly related to the causes and consequences of the 2008 financial crisis. Each chapter presents an economist, and structures the ‘problem’, the ‘insight’ (the economist’s idea), the ‘economist’ (short bio), and two ‘practices’ offering real-world alternatives. This book presents a lively and original approach that will be of interest to economists and non-economists alike, discussing key elements of an economics for a postcapitalist economy and connecting policy insights to real-world problems of today.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Hague, The Netherlands

    Irene van Staveren

About the author

Irene van Staveren is professor of pluralist development economics at the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam.


Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 19.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 29.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access