Author: Maria Alejandra Madi

Series Title: Economics: Current and Future Developments

Pluralist Readings in Economics: Key Concepts and Policy Tools for the 21st Century

Volume 2

eBook: US $39 Special Offer (PDF + Printed Copy): US $115
Printed Copy: US $95
Library License: US $156
ISSN: 2452-2082 (Print)
ISSN: 2452-2090 (Online)
ISBN: 978-1-68108-507-4 (Print)
ISBN: 978-1-68108-506-7 (Online)
Year of Publication: 2017
DOI: 10.2174/97816810850671170201

Introduction

The era of globalization has brought about unprecedented social, political, and environmental challenges for policy makers around the world due to the global impact of economic decisions. In view of these challenges, economics, as a discipline, needs to be taught with the goal of broadening the dialogue on social responsibility, and developing a new pluralist culture of decision making which is inclusive to different schools of economic thought. Pluralist Readings in Economics: Key-concepts and policy tools for the 21st century highlights the long-standing debates regarding economic systems, business models, criteria of justice, and economic policies by providing conceptual openings to economic theory in an engaging and accessible way. The author provides broad coverage of relevant topics through the selection of influential economic thinkers and introduces the reader to their ideas, context, and relevant interpretations. While dealing with complex problems, the author goes beyond commonly known concepts by presenting questions on the historical context of globalization. The study of economic concepts in this way leads to asking new questions concerning various issues relevant to economics. The goal of the text is to provide an interdisciplinary perspective to readers in order to equip them with information that is key to address global economic challenges. Thus, this pluralist approach calls for a reflection of the evolution of global social and economic conditions to demonstrate problem solving approaches that align with the goal of addressing these challenges. Pluralist Readings in Economics: Key-concepts and policy tools for the 21st century is suitable to a broad interdisciplinary readership as it will benefit all those who seek to better understand the complex stakes of the capitalist system, in the tensions between regulatory policies, free market equilibria, and participatory openings in governance. This introductory work also prepares the reader for debates and discussion in economic theory aimed at shaping policy transformations towards a more equitable, just and sustainable world.

Foreword

The complexity of social and economic policy problems of the 21st century, including the widening of inequality gaps both locally and globally, is strongly increasing. Many take this as a call to revise, in a nontrivial way, our conceptual outlooks, and to increase recognition of the role and importance of multi-sided reflection of theory and practice. The evolution of capitalism and the globalization of its various forms has contributed to unprecedented social, political, and environmental challenges. The global financial crisis of 2007-2008 made clear the need to redress and redesign both the global economy and economics as a discipline, to broadening the dialogue on social responsibility, and to develop a new culture of decision making. The long-standing debates regarding economic systems, criteria of economic and social justice, and which macroeconomic policies bring about the best possible outcomes are gaining currency; this leads to asking new questions concerning various aspects of the state and market relationships on national and transnational levels, and the relation between freedom and capital economy. A pluralist approach is needed, both practically and methodologically, for a better grasp of the historical development and conditions of both the current socio-economic system and our framing and perception of it in problem solving approaches.

Pluralist Readings in Economics: Key-concepts and policy tools for the 21st century provides such conceptual openings in interdisciplinary engaged and accessible ways. In this eBook, Maria Alejandra Madi provides broad coverage of the topics through a careful selection of some of the influential economic thinkers, and offers a substantial literature overview that includes pointing the reader to the main tenets of the included authors’ ideas, context, and interpretations. Dealing with complex problems requires an ability to go beyond our received ideas and conceptualizations of the problems in question to redefine them in new contexts, and to dialoguing on social responsibility. Maria Alejandra Madi’s introductory work fits well with such end, preparing the reader for enlargement of the debate that aims to contribute to the transformation to a more just and sustainable economy and world.

The book is recommended for a broad interdisciplinary audience, specifically to students in social sciences and humanities. It will benefit all those who seek to better understand the complex stakes in the transitions of the capitalist system, in the tensions between regulatory policies, free market equilibria, and participatory openings in governance.

Malgorzata Dereniowska
Aix-Marseille University,
France


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