William Greider
An outstanding and detailed study of the emerging Global Economy.
One World, Ready or Not
Category: Erudition
Influential reading
The Limits to Growth
Donella Meadows et al.
The classic 1972 modeling exercise that was the first to investigate the limits to growth in earnest.
How Rich Countries Got Rich … and Why Poor Countries Stay Poor
Eric S. Reinert
A similar thesis to that of Ha-Joon Chang, but presented more philosophically and less concisely. Although dense and repetitive at times, this erudite and diverse discourse makes for a highly satisfying read.
The Growth Illusion
Richard Douthwaite
The world is desperately ready for a rigorous and solid foundation to a new economics that views the Economy as a subsystem of the Earth system. ‘The Growth Illusion’ is not it. Wishy-washy.
Globalization and its Discontents
Joseph Stiglitz
Unforgivably mistitled. A worthwhile critique of the World Bank by a former insider.
For the Common Good
Herman Daly & Cobb
Fifty Years is Enough
Kevin Danaher
A collection of case-studies indicting the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.
The End of Poverty
Jeffrey Sachs
Considered a keystone textbook on poverty, Sachs argues that 21st century phenomena such as sweatshop labour are the price to pay for joining the Industrial World. Characteristically, lacks humility. ‘Third World’ intellectuals hate it.
Discours sur l’origine et les fondements de l’inégalité parmi les hommes
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
[Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men]
Confessions of an Economic Hitman
John Perkins
Self-proclaimed former ‘economic hitman’ John Perkins recounts his experience as a fabricator of economic forecasts for the purpose of funneling ‘loans’ ostensibly destined for ‘development’ into the hands of Western contractors. A lack of detail makes for an unsatisfying read.