Globalization and Its Discontents

By: Joseph E. Stiglitz

Narrated by: Derek Perkins

This powerful, unsettling book gives us a rare glimpse behind the closed doors of global financial institutions by the winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Economics.

When it was first published, this national best-seller quickly became a touchstone in the globalization debate. Renowned economist and Nobel Prize winner Joseph E. Stiglitz had a ringside seat for most of the major economic events of the last decade, including stints as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers and chief economist at the World Bank. Particularly concerned with the plight of the developing nations, he became increasingly disillusioned as he saw the International Monetary Fund and other major institutions put the interests of Wall Street and the financial community ahead of the poorer nations. Those seeking to understand why globalization has engendered the hostility of protesters in Seattle and Genoa will find the reasons here. While this book includes no simple formula on how to make globalization work, Stiglitz provides a reform agenda that will provoke debate for years to come. Rarely do we get such an insider's analysis of the major institutions of globalization as in this penetrating book.

©2002 Joseph E. Stiglitz (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Highly thought provoking analysis on globalization

What made the experience of listening to Globalization and Its Discontents the most enjoyable?

Excellent and fascinating content thanks to the quite unique insight offered to us by Joseph Stiglets.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I believe that I now have a greater insight and understanding of ills the "emerging economies" reproach to the "rich nations" and why the way forward rapidly needs change.

Globalist masquerading as a critic

Stiglitz seems to come across as a guy who sees the faults in our international monetary system and carefully points out the inherent flaws and hypocrisy of modern western finance, crony capitalism, banking and government. However he utterly fails in suggesting that the answer to government’s inefficiencies is by adding more government and regulation. He essentially backs Soros’ philosophy and proposes less freedom and more government as the answer. He is a true socialist when it comes to anyone outside of “public institutions” and believes that more Keynesian economics is the solution. In essence he is just another insider playing the big government game and advocates against freedom and sovereignty.

The book does provide insights into real international finance and history and I recommend it only on historical grounds. Any reader can draw their own conclusions when it comes to the actual solutions.

it is really mind changing about free marketa

loved the narrator, it really gives you a lot to think about liberalization, the cadence of the speech walks you through the fundamental ideas of the author.

Plea

A beautiful humane thought process of a banker, who wishes and hopes that, those who make billions while sitting on their sofas or yachts, will suddenly defy the historical character of their class and let go their money making machine for the betterment of mankind.

I sometimes think, what stops an intellectually sound, humane capitalist, from understanding historical materialism or dialectical materialism, what prevents him from thinking why would those who killed millions for profiteering will want to save millions for less profits.

I consider this very well written book, which explicitly details the real, rather than utopian working of capitalism, an apology and plea.

A must read for must humane to understand why they have been disenfranchised or franchised.

Umar Murad
[e-mail]

Difficult but rewarding

Well worth the time, but don't listen if you're at all sleepy. Very interesting perspective on why the US Treasury and IMF operate in ways that at the surface seem contradictory to their purported goals.