Inequality and Power: the Economics of Class

Description

This book is about the causes and consequences of economic inequality in the advanced market economies of today. It is commonplace that in market systems people choose their own individual economic destinies, but of course the choices people make are importantly determined by the alternatives available to them: economic disparity arises mainly from unequal opportunity. Yet this merely begs the question; from whence do the vast existing inequalities of opportunity arise? This book theorizes power and social class as the real crux of ...;Introduction -- People make their choices -- Opportunity matters -- Opportunity matters : more yet -- How power works -- Capitalism : "classical" class -- Realities of class today -- Running the system : business power and political power -- Cultural power -- Increasing inequality today -- Confronting inequality and class : distributive justice -- Confronting inequality and class : economy, community and biosphere -- Conclusion.