The Good Society: The Human AgendaThe legendary economist explains how a nation can remain both compassionate and fiscally sound, with “common sense raised to the level of genius” (The New Yorker). This compact, eloquent book offers a blueprint for a workable national agenda that allows for human weakness without compromising a humane culture. Arguing that it is in the best interest of the United States to avoid excessive wealth and income inequality, and to safeguard the well-being of its citizens, he explores how the goal of a good society can be achieved in an economically feasible way. Touching on topics from regulation, inflation, and deficits to education, the environment, bureaucracy, and the military, Galbraith avoids purely partisan or rigid ideological politics—instead addressing practical problems with logic and well-thought-out principles. “Carefully reasoned . . . the pragmatically liberal Galbraith [argues] that both socialism and complete surrender to market forces are irrelevant as guides to public action.” —Publishers Weekly |
Contents
5 The Good Economy | |
6 Inflation | |
7 The Deficit | |
8 The Distribution of Income and Power | |
12 Migration | |
13 The Autonomous Military Power | |
14 The Bureaucratic Syndrome | |
15 Foreign Policy The Economic and Social Dimension | |
The Shaping History | |
What the Good Society Must Do | |
18 The Political Context | |
Back Matter | |
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Common terms and phrases
accepted achievable advanced countries adverse affluent aggregate demand basic budget bureaucracy capital central cial commitment conflict consumer corporate cultural damaging deficit democracy democratic depression Eastern Europe economic growth economic system effect employment enterprise environmental especially essential Europe expenditure favored fiscal flow of aggregate force fortunate functions future goals human immigration imperial increase industrial inevitable inflation interest investment JOHN KENNETH GALBRAITH John Maynard Keynes junk bonds lands larger less Maastricht Treaty market economy matter measure ment migration modern economy nation-state nomic organization peace planet poor problem production protection public action recent recession recognized regulation response revenues reward rich role rule sion social and economic society Soviet Union specific stagnation sumer tendency thought threat tion tional tive trade unem unemployment United urgent visual pollution vote welfare well-being workers World War II