Mulcahy Conway Associates

23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism

In 23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism one of today's most iconoclastic thinkers destroys the biggest myths about the world we live in.

It may have its flaws, but there's no real alternative to free-market capitalism - ultimately it's making us all more prosperous. The West is more efficient and financially savvy than the developing world. And technology is the way forward for everyone. Right? Wrong.

This book will turn every piece of received economic wisdom you've heard on its head. It reveals the truth behind what 'they' tell you and shows how the system really works, including:

There's no such thing as a 'free' market. Globalization isn't making the world richer. We don't live in a digital world - the washing machine has changed lives more than the internet. Poor countries are more entrepreneurial than rich ones. Higher paid managers don't produce better results.

This galvanizing, fact-packed book about money, equality, freedom and greed proves that the free market isn't just bad for people - it's an inefficient way of running economies too. Here Chang lays out the alternatives, and shows there's a better way.

Reviews

Incisive and entertaining ... scathing about the conventional wisdom

Robert Skidelsky, New Statesman

Where mainstream economic debate is often stiflingly narrow, Chang talks about 19th-century Germany, 21st-century China and many other points besides. Where economics is dry, this Cambridge professor delights in paradox... Chang's readers will recognise this style from Bad Samaritans and Kicking Away the Ladder, his earlier books on development economics. But 23 Things is an attempt at a more popular book, and it deserves both a wide audience and - with its discussion of industrial strategy and the relationship between state and markets - to be read by politicians hunting for new ideas.

The Guardian, editorial 29th September 2010

A masterful debunking of some of the myths of capitalism... For anyone who wants to understand capitalism not as economists or politicians have pictured it but as it actually operates, this book will be invaluable.

John Gray, The Observer

Lively and provocative book... Read this book

David Smith, Sunday Times

Myth-busting and nicely-written collection of essays... the best economists are those who look around at our man-made world and ask themselves "why?". Chang is one such.

Sean O'Grady, The Independent

While the guild of academic economists may continue to ignore maverick economic thinkers like Chang, the future of the world economy may depend on wether the rest of us pay attention.

Michael Lind, Prospect Magazine

Cambridge economist Ha-Joon Chang debunks received wisdom on everything from the importance of the internet to the idea that people in the United States enjoy the highest standard of living in the world; an iconoclastic attitude that has won him fans such as Bob Geldof and Noam Chomsky.

Rachel Shields, The Independent

the thrust of his engaging case for a more cautious and caring era of globalisation is difficult to dispute. Anyone keen to repeat the unlikely success of Park Tae-Joon would do well to read it.

James Crabtree, Financial Times

A must-read for those looking for alternatives to current orthodoxy.

Robert Skidelsky, New Statesman Books of the year 2010

Has a commitment to the idea of creating economically activist citizens which I share and believe is very important.

John Lanchester, New Statesman Books of the year 2010

Other books by this author

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  Bad Samaritans: Rich Nations, Poor Policies And The Threat To The Developing World

  more info >