Global capitalism is affected by the malaises of stagnation, financial fragility, increased income inequality, growing wealth concentration at the top, and a vanishing fair social contract. This book focuses on the incidence of these phenomena in the US, UK, Greece, Spain, Chile, South Africa, Australia, China, and other countries. The book looks at the effects of IMF-ECB led austerity policies in Europe. The book examines concrete country and global conditions combining theory, country studies, historical evidence, and international comparative analysis. The book also proposes new policy priorities to restore stability, reduce inequality, and consolidate democracy in 21st century capitalism.

Andres Solimano received his PhD in Economics from MIT and is Founder and Chairman of the International Center for Globalization and Development in Santiago, Chile. He is currently Research Associate at the Business School of Universidad Mayor in Santiago. He was Oxford -CAF Invited Fellow in 2015 at Saint Antony's College, Oxford University. Dr. Solimano has published several books on economic elites, crisis, global capitalism, inequality, international migration, and talent mobility. He held senior positions at the World Bank, United Nations, and the Inter-American Development Bank and is regularly invited to deliver academic talks. Dr. Solimano is also a regular participant in media programs on issues of economic policy, social conditions, the international economy, and global developments.

Chapter 1: Foreword Chapter 2: Neoliberal Macroeconomics and Its Discontents: Origins, Content and Alternative Approaches Chapter 3: Economic Inequality in a Democratic Society: Measurement, Causes and Effects Chapter 4: Historical Background, Democracy and Free Market Policies: United States, United Kingdom, Chile and South Africa Chapter 5: The Rise of Inequality in the United States and the United Kingdom Chapter 6: Wealth and Income Inequality in Chile and South Africa Chapter 7: Speculative Cycles in the Stock Market and Housing Market and the Role of Gold Chapter 8: Private and Public Debt Cycles in Current and Historical Perspective Chapter 9: Stagnation, the Costs of Austerity and Rising Inequality in the European Periphery and Core Capitalist Economies Chapter 10: Epilogue