Reinert tries here to remind everyone that there is a forgotten alternative to the single economic thought, orthodox economics, which prevails today: the Other barrel. Type economy "Schumpeterian" / "Keynesian" whose driving force is the spirit and human will, entrepreneurship and conflicts between the real economy and financial economy are normal and should be regulated. This is an alternative economy based on experience.
The book sheds light on the concept of increasing and decreasing returns to explain the wealth gap between nations in the world and how to remedy this problem with this Other barrel.
Suffice to say that this book is very topical at a time when our president leaves us the pact of "competitiveness", it is interesting to read what was already thinking Reinert in 2007, I would like to quote for c It is clear in the tone: "competitiveness is [] an extraordinarily flexible term that coincides with a period of unrest confused thinking and a need to justify the absolute failure of essential economic theories. It can be used to describe a mechanism that enriches everyone [], but also as a term describing the opposite, to convince the workers that they must accept being poorer. It is sad to see that in Europe, the term competitiveness is more often used in the sense of Uganda, coupled with the "flexibility of the labor market" (which invariably means flexibility down). In order to be "competitive", we must lower our living standards. "P.387 There is no comma to change!
This book is absolutely fascinating and sheds the dominant economic ideology and discover, or rather rediscover its alternative. Needless to say more, everything is in the book is dense, refers to saving many books, some very old and forgotten (or set aside).
On the RAS form, right format, legible font, many notes and sources placed endnotes, bibliography well supplied, the presence of an index (nominum, we would have appreciated a guide to the technical terms), a summary, diagrams and tables on this side we are well served.
As for flaws we can blame can be a little too long introduction oeuvre by Reinert just starting p.111. A few shells here and there, an error in the summary (I'll let you find it!) And the approximation is felt in translation at times but from the words of the author in the acknowledgments the French version was greatly enhanced by Claude Rochet and the whole is very clear.
Unfortunately very high price, it should offer a pocket-sized for small grants. As Reinert said in his introduction his message is also for his 3rd public, that of the poor countries, unfortunately at this price the message may not pass!
This book lets take a step back, get out of the immediacy of everyday life and the unique economic thinking promoted by the media and the political body embracing 500 years of economic and social change.
In these troubled times when neoliberalism is the new religion it is urgent if not essential to read this book in order to open the mind and awaken his critical sense, for there was indeed "an alternative" , Yes Madam!
