These reflections by academics, experts and former political leaders prove that neither returning to the recipes of the 1980’s and 90’s nor refurbishing the pre-existing schemes of the 1950’s and 60’s will yield the solutions we need at the domestic or global level. It puts a fundamental re-imagining of the role of public authority and political sovereignty back on the agenda.
Frank Vandenbroucke, former Minister of Education and Employment of Flanders and former Minister of Social Affairs and Pensions of the Federal Government of Belgium
This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the economic crisis and its aftermath. The extraordinary collection of interviews with experts, policy analysts, and political leaders not only demonstrates that we need to engage in a major reevaluation of global as well as national economic policies, the role of the state in the economy, and neo-liberal doctrine, it also provides the best starting point for just such a reevaluation.
Vivien A. Schmidt, Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration and Chair of the Center for International Relations, Boston University
A highly instructive and quietly provocative way to try and make sense of a financial crisis whose deep origins and potentially transformative impact no one fully understands, is to read this collection of disciplined but open-ended reflections on both by some of the world's best economists and social scientists. Whatever you think about the crisis now you will rethink upon encountering their trenchant but nuanced reactions.
Charles Sabel, Professor of Law and Social Science, Columbia Law School