Making Capitalism Fit For SocietyPolity, 7 ott 2013 - 203 pagine Capitalism is the only complex system known to us that can provide an efficient and innovative economy, but the financial crisis has brought out the pernicious side of capitalism and shown that it remains dependent on the state to rescue it from its own deficiencies. Can capitalism be reshaped so that it is fit for society, or must we acquiesce to the neoliberal view that society will be at its best when markets are given free rein in all areas of life? The aim of this book is to show that the acceptance of capitalism and the market does not require us to accept the full neoliberal agenda of unrestrained markets, insecurity in our working lives, and neglect of the environment and of public services. In particular, it should not mean supporting the growing dominance of public life by corporate wealth. The world’s most successful mature economies are those that fully embrace both the discipline of the market and the need for protection against its negative outcomes. Indeed, a continuing, unresolved clash between these two forces is itself a major source of vitality and innovation for economy and society. But maintenance of that tension depends on the enduring strength of trade unions and other critical groups in civil society - a strength that is threatened by neoliberalism’s increasingly intolerant onward march. Outlining the principles for a renewed and more assertive social democracy, this timely and important book shows that real possibilities exist to create a better world than that which is being offered by the wealthy elites who dominate our public and private lives. |
Sommario
From a Defensive to an Assertive Social Democracy | 1 |
We Are All Partly Neoliberals Now | 23 |
Marketization and Market Inadequacies | 49 |
Capitalism and the Welfare State | 63 |
The Welfare State of Assertive Social Democracy | 91 |
Confronting Threats and Enemies | 113 |
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accept achieve action activities agenda approach assertive social democracy banks bargaining become benefits capitalism capitalist central Chapter competition confident conflict consumers corporate costs countries crisis declining defensive defined developed difficult diversity dominance efficient elites employees employment Estonia Europe European example existing externalities field finance financial find firms first first kind force funding Germany global governments Greece groups imperfect competition important income individual industrial institutions interests issues labour market labour movement large numbers levels of inequality liberal major market economy market inadequacies means ment movements neolib neoliberal network externalities Nordic Nordic countries OECD officials one’s organizations pension political position problem produce profits protection public policy public services regulation risk role sector share Slovakia Slovenia small number social democratic parties social investment welfare social policy socialist society strong tion tive trade unions trust wealth workers