Is Capitalism Working? is a deeply relevant question today, especially
to a generation coming of age in a world still experiencing aftershocks
from the near-meltdown of the world economy in 2008. Economic theory can
be complex, but Jacob Field's well-structured and thought-provoking text
lays out the debate in a clear, accessible, and engaging way. Augmenting
Field's text are shrewdly selected illustrations that help readers grasp
the basic tenets, history, and context of capitalism.
Field lays out this entry in the "Big Idea" series in four distinct
sections: "How Capitalism Evolved," which provides a brief history of
capitalism and theories such as utilitarianism and Marxism; "How Modern
Capitalism Works," which explores the successes of capitalism as a
national and international economic model; "Capitalism in Crisis," which
lays out the failures and arguments against capitalism; and "Adapting
the Capitalist Model," which scrutinizes successful alternatives to
capitalism. Ultimately, Is Capitalism Working? allows readers to draw
their own conclusions, providing a helpful primer on capitalism and a
framework for understanding the challenging question of its
effectiveness.