'In the midst of the double crisis of the economy and of economic theory, we need innovative ideas. These ideas have to be soundly based on analytical foundations as well as on an appreciation of the limits of political economy. Flaschel and Luchtenberg have written a book which will be read deeply and for a long time.'
- From the foreword by Meghnad Desai The current crises in the financialization of capitalism, and their repercussions on the financial viability of entire countries, severely question the achievements of mainstream economics and its disregard of Keynes's theory of effective demand and finance. In view of this, Peter Flaschel and Sigrid Luchtenberg consider roads to a type of capitalism that could eventually be considered as 'social' in nature.

The authors underpin their study with theory, empirical evidence, and policy from a positive as well as a normative perspective. As points of departure for their concept of social capitalism, the theoretical framework provides a synthesis of the work of Marx, Keynes, and Schumpeter on ruthless capitalism, regulated capitalism, and competitive socialism.

This challenging book will prove a thought-provoking and much needed alternative for academics and students of economics, heterodox economics and the history of economic thought, as well as for individuals interested in the understanding and reshaping of capitalism.

Contents: Foreword by Meghnad Desai Preface General Introduction Part I: Failing Capitalism: Baseline Scenarios and Social Reforms 1. Capital Accumulation and the Marxian Reserve Army 2. Segmented Labour and an Employer of Last Resort 3. Full Employment Capitalism through an Employer of First Resort Part II: The Forces to Cope With: Effective Demand, Finance and Innovation 4. Demand-Driven Distributive Cycles 5. Banking, Financial Markets and the Narrow Banking Idea 6. Schumpeterian Innovations Waves from a Classical Perspective by Reiner Franke Part III: Systemic Crises, Policy Responses and the Road to Social Capitalism 7. Capital Accumulation, Environmental Decay and Rehabilitation 8. Rampant Fiscal Policy, IMF Intervention and Policy Reforms 9. Social Capitalism: A New Social Structure for Capital Accumulation References Index