Finance and the Good Society, Robert J. Shiller
Finance and the Good Society, Robert J. Shiller
2 Rating(s)
List: $34.98 | Sale: $24.48
Club: $17.48

Finance and the Good Society

Author: Robert J. Shiller

Narrator: Walter Dixon

Unabridged: 10 hr 43 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Ascent Audio

Published: 03/20/2012


Synopsis

The reputation of the financial industry could hardly be worse than it is today in the painful aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. New York Times best-selling economist Robert Shiller is no apologist for the sins of finance--he is probably the only person to have predicted both the stock market bubble of 2000 and the real estate bubble that led up to the subprime mortgage meltdown. But in this important and timely book, Shiller argues that, rather than condemning finance, we need to reclaim it for the common good. He makes a powerful case for recognizing that finance, far from being a parasite on society, is one of the most powerful tools we have for solving our common problems and increasing the general well-being. We need more financial innovation--not less--and finance should play a larger role in helping society achieve its goals.

Challenging the public and its leaders to rethink finance and its role in society, Shiller argues that finance should be defined not merely as the manipulation of money or the management of risk but as the stewardship of society's assets. He explains how people in financial careers--from CEO, investment manager, and banker to insurer, lawyer, and regulator--can and do manage, protect, and increase these assets. He describes how finance has historically contributed to the good of society through inventions such as insurance, mortgages, savings accounts, and pensions, and argues that we need to envision new ways to rechannel financial creativity to benefit society as a whole.

Ultimately, Shiller shows how society can once again harness the power of finance for the greater good.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Nick

I think this book succeeds in about half its aims. First the failures: It is incredibly naive. When describing government, or lobbyist action it basically ignores the findings of public choice theory. It treats them as publicly minded angels. It also is an utmost defense of the status quo. The book's......more

Goodreads review by Jeffrey

Robert Shiller is a genius and I love his thesis that finance is basically goal engineering. However, this book was simply a collection of book-report type essays that lacked cohesion and vision. Save yourself time a read his graduation speech to Yake finance grads instead.......more

Goodreads review by arbuz

Эта книга -- просто разрозненная коллекция банальных (а иногда и спорных) мнений автора о современной финансовой системе. Больше похоже на неудачную попытку политической апологетики. Так, у Р. Шиллера, социальное неравенство частично можно объяснить тем, что кто-то более склонен к риску, и потому за......more

Shiller is able to write about complex topics in a fluid and accessible manner, and the book is organized in a way that complements that style. For that, I'll give it a 2. However, I found the book very grating because of its rather Panglossian view of financial capitalism. Finance, Shiller argues,......more

Goodreads review by John

Market-based economies, aided by innovative financial tools, have provided opportunities for widespread, if not total, employment, scientific and technological advances, a better quality of life, and, in the best of circumstances, a chance to more people to become educated and prosper. History teach......more