Towards a New Economic Order

Towards a New Economic Order is a concise and critical introduction to what has become known as "regulation theory" in political economics.

It makes a major contribution to the study of the political economy of Europe.

Key book features:

• Alain Lipietz was one of the main proponents of the "French Regulation Approach".
• This book is a major contribution to the study of the political economy of Europe.
• Lipietz puts forward an alternative set of progressive measures to address the social changes of the late twentieth century.
• Alain Lipietz was one of the main proponents of the "French Regulation Approach".
• This book is a major contribution to the study of the political economy of Europe.
• Lipietz puts forward an alternative set of progressive measures to address the social changes of the late twentieth century.

Preface.

Introduction.

1. The Fordist Compromise.

2. The End of the Golden Age.

3. What Should be Done?.

4. The Impasses of Liberal-Productivism.

5. The Ecological Crisis.

6. Time for the Alternative.

7. Towards a new Wages Pact.

8. The Growth of Free Time.

9. The Welfare Community.

10. A Non-Aggressive International Economic Order.

11. The Alternative - A Project for Europe.

Postscript to the English Edition.

'A new agenda for a Left seeking to go beyond welfare Keynesianism.' The Guardian

'This book will provide a useful and readable introduction to some radical Green alternative economic thinking.' The EconomicJournal

'Compelling writing on the relationship between the environment, work and welfare.' Environmental Values

Alain Lipietz is well-known throughout the world for his thinking in the area of regulation theory. A sucessful author in his field , he is also one of the economist speakers of the French Green Party.

Towards a New Economic Order is a concise and critical introduction to what has become known as 'regulation theory' in political economics. Regulation theory argues that the state may influence markets and industries through taxation, legislation, and subsidisation. Also, that companies may compete for regulation through political influence and help.

Lipietz analyses the 'Fordist' model of economic development dominant in the post-war years. Fordism is the economic development based on assembly line production, clear division of labour, and a hierarchy of authority. In opposition to this, post-Fordism concentrates on more flexible and smaller production units. He shows how Fordism can be seen to account for the political and economic crisis of the latter decades of the twentieth century.

Drawing on examples from the recent history of Europe, the Third World and North America, Lipietz argues that there are two intersecting economic reasons for the crisis: the changing international economy and the experience of reaching the limits of Fordist forms of production. In doing so, he charts the responses of governments and businesses to the weaknesses of Fordism and their proposals for a post-Fordist future.