"Real-Life Economics"

The book, "Real-Life economics" is edited by Paul Ekins and Manfred Max-Neff. I first heard about it when Max-Neef was awarded an alternative Nobel prize for economics last year and was featured on "Democracy Now" with Amy Goodman. Max-Neef is from Chile, and is well known as a "bare foot economist" whose work deals the base of societies vs their superstructures. So, he studies how people work, how they live, etc. as the basis for his economic theories, prescriptions and solutions. Seems a little "unreal" in an economy/civilization of neo-conservative thinking. where the stock market, the corporate power structure, and the top down plutocratic structures rule almost everything.

At least for now, with fissures, cracks and holes seemigly apparent most everywhere. The volume mentioned is highly recommended as a way of looking both at the present and (if we have one) the future. The editors both have essays in the volume, and are joined by an array of international economic experts which share their from the ground up views. Part l is "On the Nature of the Economy and Economic Science, Part II On Economic Activity, Progress and Development, Part III On the Mechanisms of Economic Policy, with a brief Conclusion, an ample Appendix: contacts and addresses, Bibliography & Index. The book is published by Routledge in London and New York, c1992. A new volume of Max-Neef is due out later this year.