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The Price of Inequality

How Today's Divided Society Endangers Our Future

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The top 1 percent of Americans control 40 percent of the nation's wealth. And, as Joseph E. Stiglitz explains, while those at the top enjoy the best health care, education, and benefits of wealth, they fail to realize that "their fate is bound up with how the other 99 percent live."

Stiglitz draws on his deep understanding of economics to show that growing inequality is not inevitable: moneyed interests compound their wealth by stifling true, dynamic capitalism. They have made America the most unequal advanced industrial country while crippling growth, trampling on the rule of law, and undermining democracy. The result: a divided society that cannot tackle its most pressing problems. With characteristic insight, Stiglitz examines our current state, then teases out its implications for democracy, for monetary and budgetary policy, and for globalization. He closes with a plan for a more just and prosperous future.

©2012 Joseph E. Stiglitz (P)2012 Tantor Business Development Business Development & Entrepreneurship Economic Conditions Economics Politics & Government Social Classes & Economic Disparity Sociology Banking Business Taxation Capitalism Socialism Economic disparity Economic Inequality US Economy Government Money Export Employment Economic Policy Global Financial Crisis Latin American Great Recession Africa Law Deflation Tariff
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reading this in early 2025 you can see just how accurate the predictions were in this book. we need a better system, and fast, or the consequences for the world will be very bad.
terrible narration, sounds like a dull AI, this does not help the content, but the message and substance is so strong it is still very much worth listening to.

prescient

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that said, it still is Stiglitz, so there is the occasional gem and amusing gaffe

outdated US-centric rant

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Wow. Reading this in 2025 is like finding a work of art true Nostradamus, which Stiglitz is. If only we had listened and changed in time. Alas, the warnings were not heeded, and we have sunk deeper into the predicted quagmire of an utterly decrepit America, with a fractious future. This book was a work of hope. That candle of hope has now guttered. We should have listened to Stiglitz, Reich and the others while it was still possible. Would not surprise me if this book ends up banned. Read it while you can.

A premonition treasure that we should have listened to

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Brilliantly details the 'how' of increasing inequality in the USA, but also the quite devastating consequences, for both the economy and the people. Also suggests a policy programme for fixing this, which is worth consideration.

Massively important book

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A book full of opinions about wealth with little in the way of a solution. Depressing read.

A moan about capitalism with a poor finale

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