'People First Economics' edit. By David Ransom and Vanessa Baird

This is a collection of essays, speeches, interviews and general critics of current international concerns, ranging from the need to improve environmental sustainability, to demythologising the causes behind the global finical crisis. The title ‘People First Economics’ may appear a tautology yet as its contributors demonstrate governments and corporations have increasingly pushed for objectives that maximize profit and control, sidestepping being accountable to the global or even their specific national community. Reoccurring themes include the Green new deal, banning tax havens, closing the gap between wealth inequality and distribution on an international level and the incorporation of indigenous traditions in reducing carbon emissions, promoting sustainability and respect of the land. As I read it the Copenhagen Climate Summit was exceeding even the most cynical expectations, with even the blame of its failure causing more division. Whether it was an act of sabotage by the Chinese or the arrogance of the first world, the most talked up event of the year lead to broken promises and ‘arbitrary’ target objectives, meeting the expectations of Danny Chivers predictions in the book. Despite this, the feeling of anger amongst the general public at such a pathetic outcome is encouraging as it prompts those who care to take action into their own hands and communities, in which this book is a worthy and helpful guide. ..............................................................................
‘Rather than assuming that we are stuck with levels of self-interested consumerism, individualism and materialism that must defeat any attempts to develop sustainable economic systems, we need to recognize that these are not fixed expressions of human nature. Instead, they reflect the characteristics of the societies in which we find ourselves and vary even from one rich country to another. At the most fundamental level, reducing inequality is about shifting the balance from the divisive, self-interested consumerism driven by status competition, towards a more socially integrated and affiliative society.’