The Global Minotaur: America, Europe and the Future of the World Economy (Economic Controversies) - Softcover

Varoufakis, Yanis

Softcover

ISBN 10: 178360610X ISBN 13: 9781783606108

Publisher: Zed Books Ltd, 2015

Synopsis

In this remarkable and provocative book, former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis explodes the myth that financialisation, greed and globalisation were the root causes of both the Eurozone crisis and the global economic crisis.
Rather, they are symptoms of a much deeper malaise which can be traced all the way back to the Great Crash of 1929, then on through to the 1970s: the time when a 'Global Minotaur' was born - a system of neo-liberal capitalism centered on Wall Street.
Today's deepening crisis in Europe is just one of the inevitable symptoms of the weakening Minotaur; of a global system which is now as unsustainable as it is imbalanced. Going beyond this, Varoufakis reveals how we might reintroduce a modicum of reason into what has become a perniciously irrational economic order. An essential account of the socio-economic events and hidden histories that have shaped the world as we now know it.

About this title

Review

'The emerging rock-star of Europe's anti-austerity uprising' - Daily Telegraph
'Yanis Varoufakis is a rare economist: skilled at explaining ideas, happy to join in public debates and able to put his discipline in a broader context.' - Aditya Chakrabortty, Guardian lead economics writer
'If you want to know how serious the current crisis is, you should read his book. With much eloquence, Yanis Varoufakis argues that the current financial problems are connected to the emerging fault lines of the international monetary system. The US (the Minotaur) used to govern the international monetary system, but no more; and this crucially means that there is no surplus recycling mechanism that can reliably stabilise the world economy. The elephant in the room, so to speak, is a stumbling Minotaur.' - Prof. Shaun Hargreaves-Heap, University of East Anglia
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'The book is one of those exceedingly rare publications of which one can say they are urgent, timely and absolutely necessary.' - Terry Eagleton
'Clearly and strongly written, with logical organization building towards simple conclusions, the book is an easy yet rewarding read ... perhaps should become the standard way we think about the nature of our increasingly dysfunctional world economy.' - Joel Campbell, International Affairs
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'Yanis is one of the best, brightest and most innovative economists on the planet' - Steve Keen, author of Debunking Economics
'In the most comprehensive guide to the contemporary economic crisis yet written, Yanis Varoufakis traces out the path from post-war US economic supremacy to the current predicament. This book's provocative thesis, written in lively and impassioned prose, is that which neither the US nor the EU nor any other nation can now restore robust global growth. Whether you agree or disagree, this book's lively and impassioned prose will engage you both heart and mind, and hold you in thrall to the last word. The Global Minotaur is a masterwork that registers for all time the challenge of our time.' - Prof. Gary Dymski, University of California, Riverside
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A lucid and engaging writer who makes astute criticisms of the economic model that caused financial collapse and bitter recession....his argument has an ambitious sweep.’
The Times

‘This trenchant and readable critique sets the eurozone crisis within a much longer context.’ – London Evening Standard

‘A spirited book.... “The Global Minotaur,” is an economic beast held in check only by the constant movement of overseas money through Wall Street.’ – The New Yorke

About the Author

Yanis Varoufakis is the former Greek Minister of Finance and an MP for Syriza. He is also Professor of Economics at the University of Athens and Visiting Professor at the University of Texas. Born in Athens, 1961, Varoufakis completed his secondary education in Greece before moving to England where he read mathematics and economics at the Universities of Essex and Birmingham. He has taught at various British Universities (Essex, East Anglia, Cambridge, Glasgow), and spent twelve years teaching at the University of Sydney (Australia).

Edition details

• Publisher: Zed Books Ltd
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 178360610X
• ISBN 13: 9781783606108
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 304