Growth

A useful addition to the public discussion of growth in a longer-term context. – Vivek Arora * Finance & Development *
Fascinating…A remarkable survey of a complex subject that is both erudite and immensely readable. Susskind’s thoughtful discussion of the issue is historical and practical, offering insights into how innovation and growth can be boosted, and it is a timely contribution to a vitally important debate. – PD Smith * The Guardian *
A concise and informative study of the idea, its past, and its potential future…[Susskind] is a reliable guide to economists’ often arcane arguments about growth and a clear commentator on their significance. – Robert Bellafiore Jr. * City Journal *
A readable and useful introduction to the green-growth perspective. – Rutger Hoekstra * Nature *
Consults the balance sheet of a capitalist society dedicated to economic growth and concludes that in the 21st century, the singular ambition of growth may need to be modified but shouldn’t be abandoned. – Benjamin Kunkel * The Nation *
Pushes back against the contention that the scope for economic growth is now greatly diminished and that humankind, in order to save the planet, must transition to no growth. – Barry Eichengreen * Foreign Affairs *
Much has been written about growth by economic, policy, history, ecology, and management scholars, yet we remain uncertain about its causes. What Susskind adds is a sharper provocation: He challenges readers to consider not just how growth happens but what kind of growth we want, how much of it is enough, and who truly benefits…timely. – Irene Henriques * Administrative Science Quarterly *
Timely and ambitious…[an] excellent short guide. – Matthew Lynn * Centre for Enterprise, Markets, and Ethics *
Economic growth is a double-edged sword, according to this thought-provoking treatise…The high-level discussions evaluating the merits of economists Paul Romer’s and Joel Mokyr’s theories about the origins of human prosperity can be dense, but the discerning analysis is worth the effort. This brings clarity to a pressing and intractable quandary. * Publishers Weekly *
Daniel Susskind is a compelling, insightful thinker on the largest and most fundamental economic topics. At a time when traditional notions of growth are increasingly being questioned, this book is profoundly important. Agree or disagree, anyone who wants to engage with the broad direction of economic policy needs to reckon with Susskind’s views. – Lawrence H. Summers, former Secretary of the Treasury
What type of economic growth we should pursue, how much of it, and for whose benefit will be crucial questions in the years to come, especially if current trends—more and more inequality, and an increasing concentration of power among the select few companies shaping the future of technology—continue. This well-written, thought-provoking book is essential reading for anybody interested in these epochal debates. – Daron Acemoglu, coauthor of Power and Progress and Why Nations Fail
For two centuries, economic growth has meant longer lives, better health, and material comfort. But has growth now come to an end? What can be done to restart the engine? Or should we halt growth deliberately, given its environmental costs? This panoramic book addresses the most fundamental economic questions from a deeply ethical perspective. – Diane Coyle, author of Cogs and Monsters and GDP: A Brief but Affectionate History
Growth—the lack of it, the search for it, the barriers to it—is the challenge at the core of most political debates and with which all politicians struggle. Susskind’s study is a tour de force. – Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister of the UK
Daniel Susskind writes with verve, style, and conviction about one of the most important issues of our age. – Rory Stewart, author of The Places in Between and How Not to Be a Politician
This is a wonderfully elegant and authoritative explanation-cum-manifesto for what is perhaps the most important economic issue facing us today—the mystery of economic growth and what we need to do to solve it. – Andy Haldane, former chief economist of the Bank of England

Daniel Susskind is a Research Professor in Economics at King’s College London and a Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Ethics in AI at Oxford University. He is the author of A World Without Work and coauthor (with Richard Susskind) of the bestselling The Future of the Professions. A former Kennedy Scholar at Harvard University, he has held numerous posts in the British government, including in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, the Cabinet Office, and the Policy Unit at 10 Downing Street.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.