Democracy and Prosperity - by Torben Iversen & David Soskice

Book Synopsis

A groundbreaking new historical analysis of how global capitalism and advanced democracies mutually support each other

It is a widespread view that democracy and the advanced nation-state are in crisis, weakened by globalization and undermined by global capitalism, in turn explaining rising inequality and mounting populism. This book, written by two of the world's leading political economists, argues this view is wrong: advanced democracies are resilient, and their enduring historical relationship with capitalism has been mutually beneficial.

For all the chaos and upheaval over the past century--major wars, economic crises, massive social change, and technological revolutions--Torben Iversen and David Soskice show how democratic states continuously reinvent their economies through massive public investment in research and education, by imposing competitive product markets and cooperation in the workplace, and by securing macroeconomic discipline as the preconditions for innovation and the promotion of the advanced sectors of the economy. Critically, this investment has generated vast numbers of well-paying jobs for the middle classes and their children, focusing the aims of aspirational families, and in turn providing electoral support for parties. Gains at the top have also been shared with the middle (though not the bottom) through a large welfare state.

Contrary to the prevailing wisdom on globalization, advanced capitalism is neither footloose nor unconstrained: it thrives under democracy precisely because it cannot subvert it. Populism, inequality, and poverty are indeed great scourges of our time, but these are failures of democracy and must be solved by democracy.

Review Quotes

"Iversen & Soskice present a unique analysis of the relationship between capitalism and democracy. . . .[Democracy and Prosperity] offers a brilliant framework that will be greatly acknowledged as well as critiqued in the coming years."---M Karem Coban, Democratic Audit UK

"Iversen and Soskice present a unique analysis of the relationship between capitalism and democracy . . . . [this] book offers a brilliant framework that will be greatly acknowledged as well as critiqued in the coming years."---M Kerem Coban, LSE Review of Books

"Many on the right argue that democracy subverts capitalism. Many on the left argue that capitalism undermines democracy. In this brilliant book, Iversen and Soskice argue compellingly that both views are wrong."---Martin Wolf, Financial Times, Summer Books of 2019

"One of the Financial Times' Summer Books of 2019: Economics"

"Persuasively argue[d]."---Edwards Hadas, Reuters BreakingViews

"The authors deliver an impressive series of empirical findings and theoretical arguments in favor of this unconventional and bold thesis at odds with an era in which illiberal democracies and populist movements prosper."---Robert Boyer, Journal of Economics

"Thought-provoking."---Martin Wolf, Financial Times

About the Author

Torben Iversen is the Harold Hitchings Burbank Professor of Political Economy at Harvard University. His books include Women, Work, and Politics and Capitalism, Democracy, and Welfare. David Soskice is School Professor and Professor of Political Science and Economics at the London School of Economics. His books include Macroeconomics: Institutions, Instability, and the Financial System (with Wendy Carlin) and Varieties of Capitalism (edited with Peter A. Hall).