Creation of Wealth and Poverty

Hassan Bougrine holds a PhD from the University of Ottawa and has been teaching at Laurentian University for nearly 30 years where he is currently the Chair of the Economics Department. He has been a Visiting Professor and scholar at many institutions in Latin America, Europe and Africa.

‘A work of searing eloquence and moral fire, informed by a scholarship that spans forgotten classics and nearly all the best new thinking. All in the service of building a better world. In one word: splendid.’ — James K. Galbraith, author of Welcome to the Poisoned Chalice: The Destruction of Greece and the Future of Europe.‘What a passion for the abolition of enslavement by the ruling totalitarian class! What a courage to denounce the role of orthodox economists as the "intellectual aristocracy" of predators! A true and deep culture is enshrined in this brilliant study, which is Professor Bougrine’s modern version of Das Kapital. This is the best answer to neoliberals and should be read by everyone.’ — Alain Parguez, Emeritus Professor, Université Franche-Comté, Besançon, France. ‘A brilliant exposition of the colonial roots of the Great Divergence. An excellent analysis of the current neoliberal model. Bougrine convincingly argues for a radical reform in the spirits of Keynes, Marx and Karl Polanyi.’ — Kari Polanyi Levitt, Emerita Professor of Economics, McGill University, Canada. Author of "From the Great Transformation to the Great Financialization" (2013)‘An excellent critical review of mainstream academic thoughts on poverty in the contemporary global system; a convincing illustration of the shortcomings of these thoughts on the case of Canada.’ — Samir Amin, President of the Third World Forum‘Bougrine quotes Nelson Mandela: "Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings." But what actions? Many have written passionately about these and related topics. What Hassan Bougrine brings to the table is that he is also an expert monetary theorist, and is therefore well able to suggest plausible "means and ways".’ — John Smithin, York University, Toronto

• Introduction1 The State, the Market and Management of Class RelationsIntroduction The Primitive State and its Economic RoleThe Neoliberal State and the Policies of PauperizationConclusion2 Democracy in Government: The Power of PolicymakingIntroductionDemocracy in Government: Economic and Social DemocracyConclusion3 Private Wealth … and Public DebtIntroductionOf Assets and LiabilitiesPublic Policy and the Creation of WealthConclusion4 Full Employment versus ScarcityIntroduction Austerity and the Creation of Artificial ScarcityThe Necessity of Full EmploymentConclusion5 Innovation, Ownership and ProgressIntroductionHumanity’s Great Leap Forward: Innovation and the Role of the StateThe Commodification of Knowledge and the Prospects of Progress Conclusion6 Industrialization Backwardness, International Trade and FinanceIntroductionThe Weight of History, the Great Divergence and Industrial PolicyThe Power of Finance: Removing the External ConstraintConclusion7 Industrialization and the Environmental CrisisIntroductionThe Fossil Economy and the Rise of Capitalist IndustrializationThe Green Economy as AlternativeConclusion