Product Description

"The Skeptical Economist" rejects the story told by many other recent popular economics books: it shows that economics is not an agreed body of knowledge or an objective, quantitative science. In reality, economics is built on ethical foundations, distinctive and controversial views about how we ought to live, and what we value. In this revealing and entertaining book, the author exposes these hidden assumptions, and in doing so opens the black box of modern economics to reveal that the conventional wisdom is not what it appears to be. In short, "The Skeptical Economist" re-discovers the ethics at the heart of economics. The book responds to two trends: Western malaise about quality of life, and a growing curiosity about economics and its relevance to these concerns. It will attract readers who know that economics is unavoidably central to any attempt to improve our quality of life, but do not know why. It conveys a sense of hope, without being utopian. It is a book of ideas and will challenge us all to examine the assumptions behind the economics of our current way of life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #469345 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 290 pages

Review
"This book goes much further than the various books that have paved the way for popular economics. Jonathan Aldred gives both scepticism and entertainment." Clive Hamilton, Professor of Public Ethics and author of Growth Fetish.

About the Author
Jonathan Aldred is Newton Trust Lecturer in Land Economy at Cambridge University and Director of Studies in Economics at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, UK.

Customer Reviews

The Sceptical Economist
I enjoyed this book immensely - so much so that I spent a couple of days ignoring the reading I was supposed to be doing.
The book's main thesis is that the claims of free-market economists are not as scientific as they claim. I was initially a little perturbed by what I took to be the author's characterisation of science - the generation of numbers through precise measurement. However, if I've read him correctly, what he's taking issue with is the model of science used by free market economists to support the scientific status of their theories (Look! It must be scientific - we've generated numbers and done maths!)In fact, what this book is very good at is pointing up the unchallenged assumptions which underpin a lot of modern economics.

If nothing else, this book is a great corrective for assumptions such as "tax is theft", "more choice must be better" and that the best way to make any decision is to trust the market.

I might have given it 5 stars if he'd spelt 'Sceptical' correctly.