The Economics of Enough: How to Run the Economy as If the Future Matters

So often books about economics and sustainability become doom-and-gloom rants about how we've messed everything up and now everyone needs to stop doing everything or we'll all perish. Generally these kinds of books offer little to no solutions for how we might actually remedy things and how those actions will affect not only ourselves, but the rest of the world as well. Diane Coyle manages to calmly examine multiple angles of many previously proposed, somewhat more extreme solutions offered by other sustainability economists, and leads the reader through realities and steps we'll have to deal with in the future. This is not an on-the-ground, what-can-I-do-in-my-neighborhood-now kind of book; it deals with the politics and policy challenges that we're all going to have to recognize as voters. While there are plenty of books that give neighborhood solutions for how we can help make a difference, serious and difficult changes are going to have to be made to the structure and function of our economic systems. Diane Coyle tells us about the social institutions that are going to need immediate action before they crush the budgets of various countries (for example, she describes how in the next 10-20 years one-third or more of the population of both Italy and Japan will be above the retirement age, no longer working or contributing to taxes, but in need of many expensive social services- America is not too far behind).One of the things I enjoyed most about the book is how multi-national it is. Coyle is British and studied in America, but the world's economic woes are not the exclusive fault of these large economies; she uses examples from all over the world regarding growth, economic inequality, instability, trust in our leaders, and happiness as it relates to the economy. All of these issues will need to be addressed in an effort to try to find out how much is enough.

Did not like to the writing style

Coyle spends time crafting an argument just to contradict herself pages later. Background research is great--but the author's standpoint goes from murky to clear as mud. Look for something by an author less wishy-washy.

Very enlightening topic!!!

"Different kinds of transactions in the economy call for different kinds of institutions. If the basis of the transactions changes. so must the governance." It all comes down to trust, especially in an environment where trust has degraded and needs to be rebuilt. The ideas are fascinating, but sometimes repetitive and vague. What really struck and engaged me with this piece was how the author introduces and paints a vivid picture of today's landscape and how both the past and present are interconnected with the future and that we must start building and be trusting of one another. Worth the read, especially on a Sunday afternoon.

"Different kinds of transactions in the economy call for different kinds of institutions. If the basis of the transactions changes. so must the governance." It all comes down to trust, especially in an environment where trust has degraded and needs to be rebuilt. The ideas are fascinating, but sometimes repetitive and vague. What really struck and engaged me with this piece was how the author introduces and paints a vivid picture of today's landscape and how both the past and present are interconnected with the future and that we must start building and be trusting of one another. Worth the read, especially on a Sunday afternoon.

Economist Diane Coyle argues that the 2007-2008 financial crisis was not an isolated event but a symptom of greater issues in the global economy. The forces driving these issues include social progress, climate change and technology, particularly the shift to a knowledge- and service-based economy. In this impressive, strikingly honest book, Coyle works hard to avoid clichéd binaries (left versus right, market versus government) and to base her analysis on research and observation. Some of her insights are useful, and her section on measurement is nicely original. However, her overall call for action is not as fresh, practical or persuasive as her analysis of the problems at hand. Nonetheless, getAbstract recommends this earnest work of economic inquiry to executives, policy makers and all those who believe that having an ethical society remains a viable goal.

Quite unclear and often changes directly in thoughts and main point. Good points if you can be patient and read through but it's not interesting.

This timely book explores all aspects of sustainability: economic, environmental and social. The underlying theme pursued throughout the book is that economic growth, whilst bringing significant benefits to society, can no longer continue in its present form. Indeed, by ignoring social and natural limits, it has become unsustainable. The Economics of Enough is a devastating critique of recent economic policymaking that has been driven by political parties prepared to win votes by offering short-term solutions to long-term problems.The book carefully reviews a vast literature relating to current multiple crises concerning our deteriorating environment, growing social inequality and the mounting burden of public debt. In providing an overarching critique of the most important debates affecting Government policy on what are the critical issues of our time, the Economics of Enough draws upon all the main disciplines of the social sciences and distills the latest evidence from academic research. The enquiry ranges from the study of happiness (psychology) to the trend of growing social inequality(sociology); from the depletion of natural capital (environmental economics)to the burgeoning problem of debt(political economy).An ambitious and bold study which should become compulsory reading for all politicians, particularly the deficit deniers. By cutting through the ill-considered and sterile arguments of populist politicians, short-term fixes are banished in favour of long-term, sustainable solutions. In this context, the current political debate about growth versus austerity offers a false prospectus; in the West, we have reached the limits of debt-fuelled growth which has turned out to be a mirage, its proponents morally as well as economically bankrupt. Sustainability dictates a new approach based on rebalancing the economy and an end to public excess. To be fair to our children and the environment, long-term policies must be carefully devised to manage all our resources and ensure that future prosperity is not mortgaged to solve existing problems.In the second part of the book, a radical re-assesment of the values and institutions is made, outlining the challenges that must be confronted to build a sustainable economy. In the final chapter a manifesto for achieving this is set out. The Economics of Enough argues that these challenges can be met, providing a hopeful message for ending the perpetual crisis that seems to have engulfed Governments in the West. For this reason, Diane Coyle's study offers a welcome and relevant critique of the current crisis.

More enjoyable than a lot of economics books. But that inevitably means being more opinionated.Though I did not always agree with Coyle, he makes coherent arguments. And I read more than I expected to be be honest. That is why I think it deserves four stars.

Bought as a gift- reportedly an interesting read.

I guess it's because I'm opinionated but I don't enjoy the bias in this book

a present for someone