The Alternative

In this informative and courageous book, Nick Romeo shows there is an alternative - or, rather, many alternatives - to the currently dominant neoliberal economic system. In doing so, he liberates our economic imagination and puts a backbone into economics as a moral science. This is a very valuable field manual for those who want to change our economies for the better – Ha-Joon Chang, professor of economics, University of London, and author of EDIBLE ECONOMICSThe Alternative got my emotions boiling … yet I felt a strong rush of hope in seeing, through Romeo’s deep research and vivid storytelling, that there are plenty of great solutions out there, and they’re already being put into practice. As this important book makes clear, we just need the moral courage and political imagination to make them mainstream – Rick Wartzman, author of STILL BROKECarefully researched, beautifully written, engaging stories, filled with wisdom about building economic justice. Easy reading that results in hard thinking about how economics can be a force for good – Joseph R. Blasi, professor and director, Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing, Rutgers UniversityThere is an alternative to capitalism as we know it. Romeo vividly describes the options, giving reason for optimism about a more just and democratic economy beyond the bleak prison of shareholder capitalism. The Alternative reports from the front lines on bold experiments going on around the world – Jerry Davis, professor of business administration, University of MichiganProfound and engaging, a terrific book that deserves to be widely read. Romeo zeroes in on the actual solutions undertaken by communities and businesses to end the crises of global warming and wealth inequality and provide good jobs for all with genuine living wages. The Alternative gives us the ways and means for creating a just economy – Clair Brown, professor of economics emerita, University of California, BerkeleyThe Alternative breathes with hope and urgency about building a more equitable economy and society. The hope, however, rests not on fanciful dreams but is grounded in living examples of people and organizations that are already demonstrating their viability … I hope that by bringing these ‘alternatives’ to the attention of wider audiences, Romeo’s book will inspire many more such efforts, helping to move them from the margins of our economy to the mainstream – Marina Gorbis, executive director, Institute for the FutureRomeo gives us a book of dark fears and bright hope. Exposing follies from the foolishness of 18th century English Ricardian economics, through to the devious of contemporary American billionaires who believe they can buy the University, The Alternative clearly lays out what should most concern us and what other courses of action we can demand and win. An excellent book – Danny Dorling, Professor of Human Geography, University of OxfordThe Alternative is just the book economists should read … Diligently researched and admirably principled new book … brisk and sensible – Washington PostAn enlightening, inspiring read … The Alternative brings together an appealing range of ways people across the west are imaginatively and determinedly contesting the givens in today’s capitalism. There is an ache for better - for more just ways of organising the way we work and adding more meaning to our lives. You can’t help but applaud Nick Romeo for showing the workable alternatives to capitalism and the moral driver behind them – Guardian

Nick Romeo covers policy and ideas for the New Yorker and teaches in the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley. He has also written for the New York Times, Washington Post, National Geographic, Rolling Stone, Atlantic, MIT Technology Review, and many other venues. He currently lives in Berkeley, California.