Sugar Daddy Capitalism

What is the connection between the sleaziness of Harvey Weinstein’s ‘business meetings’ and the passionless doctrine of neoclassical economics? In this witty and incisive examination of the new economy, Peter Fleming argues that they are closer than you might think.

The quest to rid society of bureaucracy, shrink government and burn red tape has certainly made capitalism ‘more human’, but not in the family-friendly way envisaged by free-market gurus. Increasing informality has led to a capitalism fuelled by limitless exploitation and increasingly seedy methods of management, from semi-feudal workplace hazing rituals and predatory middle-managers with an axe to grind to arbitrary zero-hours contracts, Uber and, perhaps worst of all, the compulsory gym session with your boss.

Fleming dubs this ‘Sugar Daddy Capitalism’ after the controversial dating-app wealthy businessmen use to meet young girls, most of whom are struggling with university fees. What seems like a creepy outlier is actually a prescient metaphor for our whole economy: an anonymous and impersonal cash system that is also intent on getting under your skin, extra close and capable of ruining everything if you say ... ‘no’.

• Contents
• Introduction: The Economics of Sleaze
• Chapter One: Uberfamiliar
• Chapter Two: Sugar Daddy Capitalism
• Chapter Three: Wiki-Feudalism
• Chapter Four: The Human ... All Too Human Workplace
• Chapter Five: No More Buddy Buddy
• Conclusion: Less Human

"Sugar Daddy Capitalism is a sober, utterly convincing analysis of contemporary economies of all scales, and the encroachment of the market into every nook and cranny – literally – of our lives. This book won't make you happy, but it will make you angry."
—Nina Power, University of Roehampton

"Scary, poignant and hilarious – Sugar Daddy Capitalism confirms Peter Fleming's position as one of the most interesting social analysts writing today."
—Carl Cederström, co-author of The Wellness Syndrome

Peter Fleming is Professor of Business and Society at the Cass Business School.