Publisher Description

The growth of the economy and the spread of prosperity are increasingly seen as problematic rather than positive - a trend Daniel Ben-Ami has termed 'growth scepticism'. Prosperity is accused of encourage greed, damaging the environment, causing unhappiness and widening social inequalities.Ferraris for all: A defence of economic progress is a rejoinder to the growth sceptics. Using examples from a range of countries, including the US, the author argues that society as a whole benefits from greater affluence. Action is needed - but to increase abundance and spread it worldwide, not to limit prosperity, as the sceptics would have it.The lively and provocative hardback edition was published to widespread coverage in 2010, and triggered debate and dissent in equal measure.

Notes

A counter to the increasing trend of 'growth scepticism' - the idea that we would be better off in a world without economic growth. Ben-Ami (using examples from a range of countries) argues that society as a whole, not just the rich, benefits from greater affluence.

Author Biography

Daniel Ben-Ami has worked as a journalist specialising in economics and finance for 25 years, during which he has contributed to many national newspapers and specialist publications. In addition to having written for specialist magazines he has contributed to the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, Prospect, spiked, the Sunday Telegraph, the Sunday Times and was previously editor of Fund Strategy magazine. He has also had numerous media engagements on the BBC and elsewhere. In the US he has appeared as a guest on the Al Franken Show on Air America Radio and his work has featured in Reason magazine online. Daniel has covered the rise of growth scepticism for several years. He has written widely on the subject, including articles for spiked-online (some of which have featured on , with extracts appearing in the New York Times and ). He has been a speaker at many events including the New York Salon, the Battle of Ideas festival, and the Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Arts. His previous book - Cowardly Capitalism (Wiley 2001) - examined the global financial markets. It was widely reviewed including, the Financial Times, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Frankfurt) and the Independent and endorsed by Business Week. It was recommended student reading for Harvard Business School. Since this book was published in hardback, he has been invited to take part in many debates and panels in the UK and internationally to present his arguments. His website and blog can be found at .

Table of Contents

Introduction; Part one: The rise of growth scepticism: Growth: supporters and opponents; What is growth scepticism?; The narrowing of horizons: why growth scepticism has come to the fore; Part two: Taking on the sceptics: Better than ever: how our lives have improved immensely; Happiness; Environment; Inequality; Conclusion.

Review

"The global financial crisis has produced a fresh outpouring of growth scepticism; the idea that we would all be better off in a world without economic growth. Daniel Ben-Ami has provided a timely and thought-provoking reminder of why we need growth and the benefits that it brings." --David Smith, The Sunday Times. "No contemporary writer in English is smarter and more convincing on the benefits of wealth to every aspect of society. It's great to see a book-length treatment of his work." --Nick Gillespie, Editor-in-chief, Reason. "Daniel Ben-Ami is an important voice for reason and fact in our current economic debates. His book is a probing contribution to understanding the decisive way that economic growth helps everyone, everywhere on the social ladder. Ben-Ami's style is incisive and entertaining, his argument crucial to understanding our present economic plight. " --Denis Dutton, Editor, Arts & Letters Daily. "It is all too rare to find a writer who is consistently thought-provoking and yet not unthinkingly contrarian. But in his writings on the economy, Daniel Ben-Ami proves himself to be one of these rare creatures. " --Diane Coyle, Managing Director of Enlightenment Economics. "..an attractively readable, succinct and closely-argued optimistic exposition." --Society of Business Economists

Long Description

The growth of the economy and the spread of prosperity are increasingly seen as problematic rather than positive - a trend Daniel Ben-Ami has termed 'growth scepticism'. Prosperity is accused of encourage greed, damaging the environment, causing unhappiness and widening social inequalities. Ferraris for all: A defence of economic progress is a rejoinder to the growth sceptics. Using examples from a range of countries, including the US, the author argues that society as a whole benefits from greater affluence. Action is needed - but to increase abundance and spread it worldwide, not to limit prosperity, as the sceptics would have it. The lively and provocative hardback edition was published to widespread coverage in 2010, and triggered debate and dissent in equal measure.

Review Quote

"Ben-Ami's thinking and writing is spotlessly clear but unbendingly hard.......he makes a formidable, controversial case." GetAbstract

Details