Reinventing Prosperity. Graeme Maxton

      

      – PRAISE FOR REINVENTING PROSPERITY –

      “The world faces a number of monumental challenges, ranging from persistent inequality and the aging of the population to climate change and the rise of the robot. In this innovative, accessible, and persuasive book, Maxton and Randers show that we don’t need revolutionary changes to meet these challenges. They tell us how big changes can be—indeed, can only be—achieved through a set of reforms that are moderate enough to be politically feasible in the short run. It is an essential guide to those who want to change the world for the better—and for certain.”

      HA-JOON CHANG, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge, author of 23 Things They Don’t Tell You about Capitalism and Economics: The User’s Guide

      “A fascinating, data-rich look at some of the most fundamental questions our species has ever faced—and a striking argument for maturity over endless growth.”

      BILL MCKIBEN, author of Deep Economy

      “Do you want a cogent and accessible explanation of why our paramount policy goal of GDP growth is increasing unemployment, inequality, and environmental destruction—while reducing welfare? Then read this informative book for both answers and better policies!”

      HERMAN DALY, emeritus professor, University of Maryland

      “The problems society faces to achieve a sustainable and desirable future are well known, but solutions seem impossible. Maxton and Randers describe thirteen politically feasible proposals that can actually solve these problems. A must-read for anyone who wants to create a better world.”

      PROF. ROBERT COSTANZA, VC’s chair in public policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

      “This book has the power to induce policy changes that are imperative for the creation of an equitable, peaceful, and sustainable future for human society.”

      RAJENDRA K. PACHAURI, past-chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); executive vice chairman, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)

      “Reinventing Prosperity, appearing nearly forty-five years after The Limits to Growth, is another wake-up call of historic significance. It reinforces the important messages of Laudato Si’, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Climate Agreement. I endorse these proposals for another economy that is both more fair and more sustainable.”

      RUUD LUBERS, co-founder of the Earth Charter

      “Maxton and Rander’s groundbreaking book gets us thirteen steps closer to the carbon-free economy by 2050.”

      MATHIS WACKERNAGEL, PhD, founder and CEO, Global Footprint Network

      “Maxton and Randers present a new path toward sustainability by focusing on a set of measures that should be more readily acceptable, because they provide short-term advantages to the majority of people. Reinventing Prosperity is a compelling book, full of new insights and iconoclastic ideas.”

      ROBERTO PECEI, vice chancellor for research emeritus, UCLA

      “Maxton and Randers bring a rare combination of insight, pragmatism, and a global perspective to the challenge of managing economies in the twenty-first century. Their thirteen policy proposals should be taken seriously by anyone who believes that thoughtful, informed, democratic change offers the best chance for a prosperous future.”

      PETER A. VICTOR, PhD, FRSC, author of Managing without Growth: Slower by Design, not Disaster

      “An important contribution to the global debate about growth, equality, climate change, and the path to a viable human future.”

      DAVID KORTEN, author of Change the Story, Change the Future: A Living Economy for a Living Earth and When Corporations Rule the World

      “A well-argued thesis. Reinventing Prosperity is a must-read primer for action.”

      SHEILA MURRAY, founding vice-principal, Canadian Centre for Management Development

      “Maxton and Randers make thirteen feasible proposals that, if implemented, would transform the future of humanity. This book is not just a ‘must read’; its solutions are a ‘must do’!”

      STEWART WALLIS, executive director, New Economics Foundation 2003–15

      “A bold analysis smashing the doctrines of mainstream economics. Built on the analysis, the authors offer thirteen proposals to reduce unemployment, inequality, and climate change. Wonderful!”

      ERNST VON WEIZSÄCKER, co-president of the Club of Rome

      “Leaving conventional economics behind, Reinventing Prosperity charts a careful course between the Scylla of economic collapse and the Charybdis of climate catastrophe. It is an urgent call to action!”

      PETER G. BROWN, Economics for the Anthropocene Project, McGill University

       REINVENTING PROSPERITY

       Foreword by David Suzuki

      GRAEME MAXTON & JORGEN RANDERS

      REINVENTING PROSPERITY

       Managing Economic Growth to Reduce Unemployment, Inequality, and Climate Change

      A Report to the Club of Rome

      – CONTENTS –

       List of Boxes

       List of Graphs

       List of Tables

       Foreword by David Suzuki

       Preface

       CHAPTER 1 Two Urgent Problems in the Rich World

       CHAPTER 2 The Traditional Solution: Economic Growth

       CHAPTER 3 The Old Approach No Longer Works

       CHAPTER 4 Advancing Robotization

       CHAPTER 5 Other Threats to the Current Economic System

       CHAPTER 6 Dead End: The Failure of Extreme Free-Market Thinking

       CHAPTER 7 The Storms Ahead