From the author of "Day of Reckoning," the acclaimed critique of Ronald Reagan's economic policy ("Every citizen should read it," said "The New Yor...
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Jul 27, 2011
The main argument of the book, in a nutshell, is this. People want to feel better off. They have two standards to use in assessing this: (a) comparison to their neighbors, and (b) comparison to their own circumstances at an earlier time. If they feel better off by standard (b), then standard (a) will be relatively less important (and vice versa). Since it is obviously impossible for all members of society to be better off than their neighbors, an over-emphasis on standard (a) will lead to a f
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Oct 16, 2011
Converse
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Friedman, an economist at Harvard University, argues that the not just the wealth of a country, but whether or not its economy is growing, has consequences for the openness of its society. Using case studies of the United States, France, Germany, and Britain, as well as episodes from other nation's histories, he shows that that there is a positive correlation between economic growth and other attractive social characteristics. For example, the American civil rights movement took place during de
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Jan 21, 2009
Again, this is about seeing if anyone has a compelling argument for why MORE is better. In this guy's case, the argument is that there is a correlation between growth - not just wealth, but productivity, innovation, blah blah - and liberalization of policies that we western 21st century types have moralized (human rights, individualism, ecology, that sort of thing.) I'm not sure how much cheerleading for growth I can tolerate, but it looks interesting. By the by, this is not the same (Thomas)
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May 27, 2008
Andrew
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The best measure of economic growth, Friedman argues, is how a person's economic status compares with that of their parents. If that status, overall, is growing, that is economic growth.
When such periods of wide-spread economic growth occur, we become, at least collectively if not individually, a more moral people.
It is during such periods of economic growth that Brown v. The Board of Education of Topeka, KS, was issued. The Virginia law forbidding interracial marriage (L More...
When such periods of wide-spread economic growth occur, we become, at least collectively if not individually, a more moral people.
It is during such periods of economic growth that Brown v. The Board of Education of Topeka, KS, was issued. The Virginia law forbidding interracial marriage (L More...
Jan 25, 2009
Chris
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A very interesting analysis of the importance of economic growth to a democratic society. The conclusion that growth leads to greater freedom, equality, etc. seems obvious, but Friedman uses many specific historical examples to prove this point. The conclusion is an important statement of what needs to happen in order for the U.S. to get back on its feet.
Mar 10, 2011
Adrian
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Interesting hypothesis: relates economic growth to development of personal liberties. The big exception to this theory in the modern world is China, but one can see how tenuous their economic growth might be, not to mention push for personal liberties. Interesting and useful theory.
Oct 08, 2008
Mariana
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Interesting, but a bit long. Haven't finished it, I had to return it to the library. I only got to page #335 (out of 436).
Mar 22, 2008
I've tried to read this twice so far. so dense! the book I mean, not me. hm.
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