The Price of Inequality

How Today's Divided Society Endangers Our Future

By: Joseph E. Stiglitz

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

Length: 13 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

The top 1 percent of Americans control 40 percent of the nation's wealth. And, as Joseph E. Stiglitz explains, while those at the top enjoy the best health care, education, and benefits of wealth, they fail to realize that "their fate is bound up with how the other 99 percent live."

Stiglitz draws on his deep understanding of economics to show that growing inequality is not inevitable: moneyed interests compound their wealth by stifling true, dynamic capitalism. They have made America the most unequal advanced industrial country while crippling growth, trampling on the rule of law, and undermining democracy. The result: a divided society that cannot tackle its most pressing problems. With characteristic insight, Stiglitz examines our current state, then teases out its implications for democracy, for monetary and budgetary policy, and for globalization. He closes with a plan for a more just and prosperous future.

©2012 Joseph E. Stiglitz (P)2012 Tantor

An Excellent and Insightful Analysis

What did you love best about The Price of Inequality?

Accessible to both the academic and layperson, this book critiques American political economy, the devastating and anti-democratic effects of our vast inequality, and outlines corrective measures that could be taken.

What other book might you compare The Price of Inequality to and why?

If you liked Krugman's "Conscience of a Liberal" or "End this Depression Now," you will likely enjoy this book.

What about Paul Boehmer’s performance did you like?

The reading is well-done and lively--no droning monotone here.

A rising tide doesn’t lift all ships…evenly

Well written book about the flaws of trickle-down economics and how government regulations on corporations are skewed toward favoring the 1% at the expense of the 99%. Great book with solid logic in 2015 or so, but I found some of the info outdated since we’ve had some very radical culture changes since then…hindsight being 2020.

Fpr all, but the Rent Seeking

The Price of Inequality by Nobel Prize winner, Joseph E. Stiglitz is by far the best book on Economics that I have read. His arguments will not be embraced by the free market advocates, but to those with an open mind and some social conscience his explanations of the issues at play in our country will resonate. His illustration of how the very rich are able to use many rent seeking devices to redirect wealth to themselves is very clear and hard to refute. His speculation of where the American economy is heading is alarming. I think his book ought to be mandatory reading for all undergraduate economics students.

Open Perspective

Where does The Price of Inequality rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I enjoyed the book though I didn't agree with some of the ideas and conclusions. It's good to hear intelligent arguments even if I don't agree with them.

Who was your favorite character and why?

N/A

Which scene was your favorite?

N/A

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

A hybrid perspective

Enlightening look into how things really work. I

I recommend it, gave me a much better understanding of how the economic machine works. Everyone should know and understand this

Terrific book for anyone

Where does The Price of Inequality rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of those rare books that is enjoyable for both individuals who have studied economics and those who have never taken an econ. class. The book is very well written—seamlessly weaving together a variety of facts and findings from various disciplines with current economic conditions at both the international and domestic level in a way that one is led inexorably to agree with Stiglitz's conclusions about the need for more equitable distribution.

Clear information, clear suggestions

What did you love best about The Price of Inequality?

As the author states, the ideas and data are presented in ways so as to allow readers of all levels of economic understanding to enjoy and gain from this book.

What does Paul Boehmer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Paul does a fantastic job reading the book. He is quite enjoyable to listen to.

Any additional comments?

The author presents data, and also presents suggestions. The idea that the author wants to raise taxes to 70% is absurd. He simply states that some economists have said that mathematically that would be a realistic amount and that at that percentage, the top earners would still do fine. Contrary to what some reviews on here have said, he is not suggesting actually doing that.

What the author does suggest is that, while the government isn't perfect (people are fallible) and corporations are not perfect (the market is entirely fallible), minor adjustments are needed in a civilized society to make sure the market behaves properly and functions for the good of more, not less people. This idea is not radicle. This idea is also not unproven.

The key to the authors suggestions are just that, MINOR adjustments. Nothing radical at all about that. And nothing that ordinary, logical people could not agree with.

The author shows, that if you are voting for people who pretend to care about you so they can keep more of what they earn (and trickle down to you as if more supply will equal more demand) you are doing so at great cost to yourself, your society, and your country.

Solid Read

I did a combination of listening to this on audible and reading on Kindle, which worked well. There was some basic common sense stuff, as well as info I had not known or thought of. It is so irritating to me to keep hearing about how corporations and big mo et influence out politicians, yet we keep electing the same people and then act surprised when the results are similar. I thought his viewpoint has validity and I hope changes can be made.

Dense, but important.

Yes, I agree with everything in this book. Those who are hooked on the idea of austerity and tax cuts will find it annoying and will search their hearts for ways to deny its ideas. Conformation bias is working overtime these days on both sides of the political spectrum.

It's human nature to choose winners and losers and to cheer for the winners. This is what it has come down to in our society. Unfortunately, this rather short-sighted way of approaching our world means that the winners walk away with most of the wealth.

This book is dense in places and I really need to re-rlisten when my head is not spinning with Obama vs. Romney rhetoric. Which I will do soon. But until then, suffice it to say, the ideas Stiglitz puts forth for making government an agent of economic growth are spot on, but incredibly hard to implement in this political climate. I think we need another mutual enemy now that the cold war is over and Bin Laden is dead. All we have to fight against is ourselves at the moment. And it sickens me.

Wow!

Any additional comments?

Well-researched, well-written, well-read. The book covers every important area of the USA that is in the current events, every major problem of the existing democracy, every cause of the problems, and gives many good solutions.