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Title: The Work of Nations: Preparing Ourselves for 21st Century Capitalism by Robert B. Reich ISBN: 0679736158 Publisher: Vintage Books Pub. Date: February, 1992 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.57
Rating: 5
Summary: A descriptive look at the future by the Labor Secretary
Comment: Probably one of the better books on the impending globalization of markets. It doesn't take the zero-sum look of Lester Thurow but is similarly written for the layman. Reich describes who will win in the market economy and provides plenty of material for Marxists, but he doesn't take a nationalistic view of globalization. People with little understanding of globalization should read this book as it tries to educate the common man about the problems with nationalistic trade regulations. Definitive reading for those who worry about NAFTA and the pending federalization of the EU
Rating: 4
Summary: Excellent readable treaty on economics.
Comment: This book almost seem like a revival of Adam Smith "Wealth of Nations" that was published in 1776. Both authors demonstrate that the living standard of a country will depend essentially on how productive their respective citizens are. They also suggests that the focus on international trade position is often misplaced and does not by itself reflect the economic power of a country.
Reich develops a great metaphor for the modern worker: the Symbolic Analyst. This person is someone with a very high IQ, with the ability to manipulate symbols (letters, numbers, icons) extremely proficiently so as to develop new markets for his employer products and services. These include investment bankers, consultants, merger and acquisition lawyers, engineers, software programmers, and many other high end white collar professionals. Reich shows how these people educate and train themselves, and what they do to stay ahead of the knowledge curve. You will most probably recognize many of your colleagues and yourselves within this description.
Rating: 3
Summary: Good definitions, incomplete discussion of the solution
Comment: I was interested in reading this book to gain some sort of understanding on the liberal-fiscal ideas bouncing around the heads of some of my democratic friends. I have to say that some of the ideas in this book, ones covering the rise of internationalized corporate webs, was stimulating and provided good cause to re-evaluate my positions on supply-side policies. However, the proposed solutions (such as taxing the life out of people at rates as high as 83%) are unrealistic and hopelessly utopian. The ideas to grow government by the sizes required to carry out the proposed public policies for aiding the poor and increasing the number of symbolic-analytic people in our society boarders on severe socialism, even communism. Those that make money should not be forced into acts of humanitarianism by excessive taxation. Also, the author never considers that in the increasingly globalized world, what is to stop those making the money from fleeing the nation that built them because the cost to stay (taxes) are too high? His only argument is that the mobility of human capital is less than corporate assets, but if living somewhere else on the planet means saving you 80% of your salary, just how mobile might wealthy symbolic-analysts become?
In the end I was disappointed because The Work of Nations spent the majority of the book defining the problem and only the last 1/5 of it explaining a solution and in no good way dealing with the tough details and hurdles of implementing that solution.
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Title: The Future of Success: Working and Living in the New Economy by Robert B. Reich ISBN: 0375725121 Publisher: Vintage Books Pub. Date: 08 January, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Fantasy City: Pleasure and Profit in the Postmodern Metropolis by John Hannigan ISBN: 0415150981 Publisher: Routledge Pub. Date: December, 1998 List Price(USD): $23.95 |
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Title: The Experience Economy by James H. Gilmore, B. Joseph Pine II ISBN: 0875848192 Publisher: Harvard Business School Press Pub. Date: April, 1999 List Price(USD): $27.50 |
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Title: I'll Be Short: Essentials for a Decent Working Society by Robert B. Reich ISBN: 0807043400 Publisher: Beacon Press Pub. Date: May, 2002 List Price(USD): $20.00 |
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Title: The Future of Success by Robert B. Reich ISBN: 0375411127 Publisher: Knopf Pub. Date: 09 January, 2001 List Price(USD): $26.00 |
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