Are the rich necessary?: great economic arguments and how they reflect our personal values

Why are we still so poor?

The appeal of science

Economic arguments

Are the rich necessary?-No

Are the rich necessary?-Yes

Are the rich compatible with democracy?-No

Are the rich compatible with democracy?-Yes

Are private profits necessary?-No

Are private profits necessary?-Yes

Are private profits necessary?-No/Yes

Are there alternatives to the profit system?-Yes/No

Should we accept this degree of inequality?-No/Yes

Does the profit system glorify greed?-Yes

Does the profit system glorify greed?-Yes, and a good thing

Does the profit system glorify greed?-No

Can government protect us from the excesses of the profit system?-Yes

Can government protect us from the excesses of the profit system?-No

Does the profit system cause depressions?-Yes/No

Can central banks protect us from depressions and lead the economy?-Yes

Can central banks protect us from depressions and lead the economy?-No

Does global free trade destroy jobs?-Yes

Does global free trade destroy jobs?-No

Competing economic value systems

Expanding the nonprofit sector.

pt. 1. The central economic problem

1. Why are we still so poor?

2. The appeal of science

3. Economic arguments

pt. 2. The rich

4. Are the rich necessary? No

5. Are the rich necessary? Yes

pt. 3. The rich in a democracy

6. Are the rich compatible with democracy? No

7. Are the rich compatible with democracy? Yes

pt. 4. Profit-making

8. Are private profits necessary? No

9. Are private profits necessary? Yes

10. Are private profits necessary? No/Yes

pt. 5. Profit-making and depressions

11. Does the profit system cause depressions? Yes/No

pt. 6. The global profit system

12. Does global free trade destroy jobs? Yes

13. Does global free trade destroy jobs? No

pt. 7. Glaring inequality

14. Are there alternatives to the profit system? Yes/No

15. Should we accept this degree of inequality? No/Yes

pt. 8. Greed

16. Does the profit system glorify greed? Yes

17. Does the profit system glorify greed? Yes, and a good thing

18. Does the profit system glorify greed? No

pt. 9. Government

19. Can government protect us from the excesses of the profit system? Yes

20. Can government protect us from the excesses of the profit system? No

pt. 10. Central banks

21. Can central banks protect us from the excesses of the profit system and lead the economy? Yes

22. Can central banks protect us from the excesses of the profit system and lead the economy? No

pt. 11. Four economic value systems

23. Competing economic value systems

pt. 12. Recoiling opposing viewpoints

Appendices

A. Expanding the non-profit sector

B. What is a "fair" price?

C. What exactly are profits?

D. Did the U.S. Congress trigger the Stock Market bubble of the late 1990s?

Notes

Index.