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A Capitalism for the People: Recapturing the Lost Genius of American Prosperity Hardcover – June 5, 2012

4.4 out of 5 stars 61 customer reviews

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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Basic Books; unknown edition (June 5, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0465029477
  • ISBN-13: 978-0465029471
  • Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1.1 x 9.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #167,479 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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By MxM on June 15, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Luigi Zingales' book is fascinating. Once I started it, I could not put it away and finished it in two days. Zingales presents a clear, comprehensive (and scary) analysis of the unhealthy relationship that has developed in the US between big business and politics, and its nefarious effects on competition, incentives, the lives of ordinary people, and the American Dream.
Many blame "capitalism" for the financial crisis. Zingales argues and demonstrates that there is an enormous difference between "capitalism" and "the capitalists", and between "pro-market" and "pro-business" choices and policies. It is the capitalists and pro-business policies that are to blame, not capitalism. Pro-business choices have favored the incumbents (rich people). As a result, outsiders (ordinary people) have seen their opportunities reduced, their shot at the American dream denied. The book argues that we need to put a stop to the cozy relationship between politicians, Wall Street and big business. Zingales demonstrates (with logic and plenty of examples) that we need pro-market policies that foster competition and meritocracy, and which ultimately benefit ordinary people.
This is a great book. I strongly recommend it to anyone who cares about the future of America, from supporters of (true) capitalism to Occupy Wall Streeters.
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Format: Hardcover
Suppose you learned that in 1998 Citicorp planned to merge with insurance company Travelers, despite the fact that such a merger was illegal under the Glass-Steagall Act, which blocked banks from owning businesses in other financial sectors such as investment banking and, yes, insurance. You might ask, why would Citicorp press on with the merger? Luigi Zingales, in his well-footnoted book, reports it was because they "had enough discussions [with the Fed and the Treasury] to believe this will not be a problem."

Suppose you also learned that Robert Rubin, then the Secretary of Treasury under President Bill Clinton, was lobbying for changes to the Act that would remove the restrictions on banks. (Such a bill passed in 1999 with a bipartisan majority of 343-86.)

You still might not find that too outrageous. There were, after all, reasonable arguments against the Glass-Steagall restrictions and even today there is controversy over their advantages and disadvantages.

But finally you learn that Rubin left his post at the Treasury Department exactly one day after the bill passed (he had actually resigned 6 weeks before) and just 108 days later he was hired by Citigroup (yes, the firm he had helped through his lobbying efforts to change Glass-Steagall) for a salary of $15 million a year and, as author Luigi Zingales points out, "without any operating responsibilities."

It was not, as Zingales points out, illegal. But was it right?

Consider it Exhibit A in the case Zingales makes against "crony capitalism," the unholy alliance of business and government.
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Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Zingales is an Italian who loves the best part of America. He writes with authority (economist at the University of Chicago business school) about the great threat to America: A corruption of its core engine of prosperity -- a free market. That corruption comes not from Reds in high places: It comes from the collusion successful capitalists engage in with dependent politicians, producing a bevy of regulations that happen to protect the successful, and block the competitors. Zingales applies this analysis to a wide range of policies, but none as important as a causes of the collapse on Wall Street. Critically important and perfectly timed: Read and recommend this book!
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Format: Hardcover
I am also Italian and I also lived in Chicago for the past 4 yrs. Reading Zingales is like a revelation to me. Everything I thought has been formalized and written down by Zingales. Both the corrupt state of our home nation and the worrying trend in the US towards crony capitalism. He is able to clarify the difference between pro-market and pro-business. e analyzes the differences between Occupy WS and the Tea Party movements, being able to synthesize their frustration against crony capitalism. I also think that this book teaches Americans how lucky they are and how easy it is to lose the "top spot", from tech innovation to academics. It is a book I would suggest to anyone, especially those who define themselves "democrats", because this book proposes new solutions that are market-friendly to old social problems like healthcare, inequality and environment. Mitt Romney should read it as well btw.
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Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
I rated this book 5 stars for two reasons: 1) Luigi Zingales has identified the most fundamental problem facing our economic system and society; which, if addressed, would increase the success of the US and all its citizens in the future. 2) The book not only identifies the problem, but has a set of practical approaches to address it. The fact that his analysis and solutions should appeal to entire political range from the Tea Party to Occupy Wall Streeters shows that progress is possible in a strongly bipartisan climate. I think the book is interesting, easy and even fun to read (certainly not a boring economics text!) and is backed up by adequate references and research. Although the ideas here are not all new, he makes a compelling presentation of them from the perspective of someone who, from his childhood in Italy, has seen what happens when cronyism is unchecked. This description, coupled with his proposals for improving the situation, make this a must read book. The hard part is getting Congress, lobbyists, unions, and companies to all give up power to reduce the cronyism that makes it easier to get favored treatment from the government than it is to create a competitive business. It can only be done with pressure from voters to implement policies outlined in the book. I found the book uplifting in that it shows there is hope for the country if we change before it is too late.
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