How Much Is Enough?

A provocative and timely call for a moral approach to economics, drawing on philosophers, political theorists, writers, and economists from Aristotle to Marx to Keynes What constitutes the good life? What is the true value of money? Why

do we work such long hours merely to acquire greater wealth? These

are some of the questions that many asked themselves when the

financial system crashed in 2008. This book tackles such questions

head-on.

The authors begin with the great economist John Maynard Keynes.

In 1930 Keynes predicted that, within a century, per capita income

would steadily rise, people's basic needs would be met, and no one

would have to work more than fifteen hours a week. Clearly, he was

wrong: though income has increased as he envisioned, our wants

have seemingly gone unsatisfied, and we continue to work long hours.

The Skidelskys explain why Keynes was mistaken. Then, arguing

from the premise that economics is a moral science, they trace the

concept of the good life from Aristotle to the present and show how

our lives over the last half century have strayed from that ideal. Finally,

they issue a call to think anew about what really matters in our lives

and how to attain it. How Much Is Enough? is a work of deep intelligence

and ethical commitment accessible to all readers.