Here is what we are currently reading
The Looting Machine
The Looting Machine by Tom Burgis exposes the global web of traders, bankers, middlemen, despots and corporate raider that are pillaging Africa’s natural resources. It provides an insight into a shadow world economy pursuing natural resources at the expense of development.
Why Nations Fail
Renowned economists Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson show that it is man-made political and economic institutions that underlie economic success (or lack of it). They draw on their years of research and historical evidence to explain many of the economic divergences between nations.
Prisoners of Geography
Tim Marshall takes a look at the geography of numerous countries around the world and offers a brilliant insight into how this geography has shaped historical, political and economic decisions.
The Growth Delusion
This book by David Pilling shows how we prioritise growth maximisation, particularly GDP, without thinking about its costs. In pursuit of GDP we do not consider other important factors crucial to our well-being.
The Value of Everything
The rise of capitalism has blurred the lines between value extraction and value creation. In this book Mariana Mazzucato argues for a rethink of our current economic system and how we measure value in society.
Against Elections
David Van Reybrouck shows that for most of its 3000 year history, democracy did not involve elections at all. Members of the public were appointed to positions in government through a combination of volunteering and lottery. The original purpose of elections was to exclude the people from by appointing an elite to govern. In this book, a case for a true democracy that works is put forward.
People, Power and Profits
Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz takes a look at how capitalism has failed to realize an era of global prosperity and faster than ever growth for the many rather than few. He puts forward his ideas for building a much fairer society which does not sacrifice growth.