Lindy Edwards is a former economic adviser in the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet, a Press Gallery Journalist for the Sydney Morning Herald and Senior Economic Advisor to the then Leader of the Australian Democrats Natasha Stott Despoja.

'This excellent book deserves to be widely read … it sympathetically and seriously engages both economists and their critics … combines passionate argument with generosity and fairmindedness.' Paul Oslington, UNSW

• Part I. A Historical Juncture: 1. A political impasse; 2. A nation-defining choice; 3. Economic rationalism's grip on power; Part II. Getting a Handle on Economics: 4. Is economics a science?; 5. Key ideas in economics; Part III. Revealing Economic Rationalism's Worldview: 6. 'Punters' versus 'economic rationalists'; 7. Contrasting views of human nature; 8. Contrasting views of how society works; 9. Contrasting views of the ideal society; 10. Economic policy and culture; Part IV. Arguing with an Economic Rationalist: 11. How to argue with an economic rationalist; 12. Reclaiming responsibility; 13. Arguing about economic efficiency; 14. Arguing about quality of life; 15. Arguing about justice; Part V. The Future: 16. The way forward; 17. Making sure 'she'll be right'.

Lindy Edwards is a former economic adviser in the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet, a Press Gallery Journalist for the Sydney Morning Herald and Senior Economic Advisor to the then Leader of the Australian Democrats Natasha Stott Despoja.

'This excellent book deserves to be widely read … it sympathetically and seriously engages both economists and their critics … combines passionate argument with generosity and fairmindedness.' Paul Oslington, UNSW

• Part I. A Historical Juncture: 1. A political impasse; 2. A nation-defining choice; 3. Economic rationalism's grip on power; Part II. Getting a Handle on Economics: 4. Is economics a science?; 5. Key ideas in economics; Part III. Revealing Economic Rationalism's Worldview: 6. 'Punters' versus 'economic rationalists'; 7. Contrasting views of human nature; 8. Contrasting views of how society works; 9. Contrasting views of the ideal society; 10. Economic policy and culture; Part IV. Arguing with an Economic Rationalist: 11. How to argue with an economic rationalist; 12. Reclaiming responsibility; 13. Arguing about economic efficiency; 14. Arguing about quality of life; 15. Arguing about justice; Part V. The Future: 16. The way forward; 17. Making sure 'she'll be right'.

Lindy Edwards is a former economic adviser in the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet, a Press Gallery Journalist for the Sydney Morning Herald and Senior Economic Advisor to the then Leader of the Australian Democrats Natasha Stott Despoja.

'This excellent book deserves to be widely read … it sympathetically and seriously engages both economists and their critics … combines passionate argument with generosity and fairmindedness.' Paul Oslington, UNSW

• Part I. A Historical Juncture: 1. A political impasse; 2. A nation-defining choice; 3. Economic rationalism's grip on power; Part II. Getting a Handle on Economics: 4. Is economics a science?; 5. Key ideas in economics; Part III. Revealing Economic Rationalism's Worldview: 6. 'Punters' versus 'economic rationalists'; 7. Contrasting views of human nature; 8. Contrasting views of how society works; 9. Contrasting views of the ideal society; 10. Economic policy and culture; Part IV. Arguing with an Economic Rationalist: 11. How to argue with an economic rationalist; 12. Reclaiming responsibility; 13. Arguing about economic efficiency; 14. Arguing about quality of life; 15. Arguing about justice; Part V. The Future: 16. The way forward; 17. Making sure 'she'll be right'.