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Licence to be Bad

How Economics Corrupted Us
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( 297 ratings, 47 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Licence to be Bad by Jonathan Aldred explores the impact of economic theory on everyday behaviour and ethical standards. The author delves into how the principles of economics have influenced societal norms, often leading people to act in ways that are more self-serving and less compassionate. The book examines the ethical implications of these changes, questioning whether the influence of economic ideas has ultimately done more harm than good.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by how economic theories influence our ethical and moral decisions in everyday life. It explores the ways in which market thinking and rational self-interest have permeated various aspects of society, often at the expense of communal values. This engaging examination could appeal to those curious about the intersection of economics, morality, and social behaviour.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A scathing examination of how, by making market efficiency our moral standard, we've come to believe that bad is good.

Over the past fifty years, the way we value what is 'good' and 'right' has changed dramatically. Behaviour that to our grandparents' generation might have seemed stupid, harmful, or simply wicked now seems rational, natural, woven into the very logic of things. And, asserts Jonathan Aldred in this revelatory book, it's economics that's to blame.

Licence to be Bad tells the story of how a group of economics theorists changed our world, and how a handful of key ideas seeped into our decision-making and, indeed, almost all aspects of our lives. Aldred reveals the extraordinary hold of economics on our morals and values. Economics has corrupted us. But if this hidden transformation is so recent, it can be reversed. Licence to be Bad shows us where to begin.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Jonathan Aldred's Licence to be Bad is praised for its insightful critique of modern economic theories, challenging longstanding orthodoxies and inviting readers to reconsider their views on economics, politics, and society. It is commended for being enlightening, entertaining, and thought-provoking, with engaging writing and a broad scope of issues discussed.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141986951

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 27 August 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 236g

Pages: 320

About the Author

Jonathan Aldred is a Fellow and Director of Studies at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

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