The Courageous State: Rethinking Economics, Society and the Role of Government - Richard Murphy In The Courageous State, Richard Murphy argues that neoliberalism has bred weak governments led by weak politicians who believe implicitly in the supremacy of the market. It has created a cowardly state: a state that sees responsibility and then runs away from it. Worse, the weak politicians who run our cowardly state want power solely to ensure that as much tax revenue as possible is used to benefit the private sector that they idolise. But neoliberal theory is wrong – it has created the crises we’re suffering. And it has no solution to them. The Courageous State argues powerfully for a new economic model. That model is based on a very different idea of what the role of the state is. The Courageous State is driven by its desire to work on behalf of the people of this country.  And that means a Courageous State is populated by politicians who believe in government and in the power of the office they hold. They believe that office exists for the sake of the public good. They know what that public good is. They think it is their job to help each and every person in their country to achieve their potential, sustainably, in a strong mixed economy. And they believe they can command the resources to fulfil this task – whether through tax or other means. A Courageous State offers hope; our existing, cowardly, state does not. Which is why building a Courageous State is essential if we want to both solve our current problems and build a sustainable future.The question is, are you willing to be that Courageous? Paperback: £14.99/EUR17.50/$24 plus p&p Chapter 1    Introduction The creation of the cowardly state What the cowardly state represents. The need for a Courageous State. Where markets go wrong The cappuccino economy Why this book needed to be written A new economic model The way to achieve our potential An approach to poverty The effect of money on well-being The right of the state to intervene Finding solutions to the challenges Creating a state of hope Part 1    Why we need the state Chapter 2    The crisis of confidence in the state The development of the cowardly state The consequences of the cowardly state How did we get a cowardly state? Chapter 3    The economic myths The fundamental flaws in neoliberal thinking Putting this in context – or why we’re in a mess right now Some excuses and some other flaws The consequences Chapter 4    The myth of the market The role of the state State regulation The state as market overseer The state as service provider Accounting for externalities The Courageous State and society Chapter 5    The cappuccino economy The ingredients The correct mix The final component Assembling the mix Getting the most out of the final product Chapter 6  Where only the state may venture Where the private sector does not always work best Why markets are inefficient in practice Why we can’t afford markets in essential services Where the markets don’t meet needs The pensions dilemma Where the market failed Market constraints The need for real capital investment The custodian of hope Chapter 7  Financing government activity The right to tax The power of taxation Redistribution of wealth Part 2 The theory of the Courageous State  Chapter 8 A new economic model  The existing model The basis for a new model The economic dilemma Recognising potential Defining potential Making sense of these ideas Putting potential on the map  The limit to potential Our different needs Absolute poverty Relative poverty Achievement Understanding the area of achievement Working within our limits Chapter 9  The problem is caused by other people How to achieve our potential Choosing what to achieve Chapter 10 Cash ain’t king The value of money  Money and the real economy Over-consumption relative to capacity The influence of advertising Corporate motivation Borrowing to fund current consumption The consequences of borrowing Borrowing for asset acquisition The lender’s viewpoint What happens when cash is king Types of financial flow The consequences of the cash relationships in society Chapter 11 Delivering the Courageous State Extremes of wealth and democracy are incompatible The goal of social democratic government So how is the courageous state delivered? The role of tax in the economy Empathy and redistribution Tax and redistribution The five Rs of taxation Fiscal policy – and why it’s so much more useful than monetary policy The other tools of macroeconomic management The attributes of a good tax system Capital controls Chapter 12 – Summary of Part 2 arguments  Part 3 Chapter 13  Identifying the Courageous State Recognising the Courageous State Chapter 14 Constraining the world of feral finance Create Financial Transaction Taxes A Spahn tax A ban on short selling Loan of shares  Splitting banks  State ownership of the payment platforms used by clearing banks Taxing banks  Stopping tax relief on the excess incomes of those speculating Taming tax havens Capital controls Tax on investment income Equal taxation of capital gains Close the tax loopholes that encourage excess saving Restrictions on buy-to-let speculation Treasury Deposit Receipts Chapter 15  Rebuilding the role of the state Close the tax gap Regulate business properly Stop privatisation of natural monopolies Create country-by-country reporting so multinational corporations are accountable Only procure from companies with acceptable business policies Create a Green Investment Bank Funding the new economy Chapter 16    Building a balanced, sustainable economy Progressive taxation Simpler taxation Wealth taxes Redistribution Tax and interest Taxes on advertising Ban on advertising to children Multiple rates of VAT Promote repair and recycling  Increasing the minimum wage Protecting union rights Industry wages boards Apprenticeships Industrial training boards Extra tax relief for employing people Reorganising the structure of the workplace Chapter 17    Supporting the broader goals of the Courageous State Reforming education  Higher education should be free Lifelong learning Maximum working hours Local democracy Social housing Health care Pensions Care for elderly  Youth services Relocating work Chapter 18    Cooperating internationally Closing down tax havens     Country-by-country reporting International tax agreements – unitary taxation Fair trade Capital controls Peace keeping – not war

C&C Endorsements from Right and Left
Why not Follow @aubreygci
Why not Tweet this?