The Foundational Economy and Citizenship - (Civil Society and Social Change) by Filippo Barbera & Ian Rees Jones (Paperback)

About the Book

Drawing on case studies in areas of social and economic concern, this interdisciplinary collection explores how foundational experiments can foster collective consumption and promote social justice.

Book Synopsis

The principles of the modern foundational economy and its role in renewing citizenship and informing public policy are explored for the first time in this instructive collection.

Challenging mainstream social and economic thinking, it shows how foundational economy experiments at different scales can foster radical social innovation through collective, rather than private, consumption.

An interdisciplinary group of respected European academics provide case studies of initiatives and interventions around policy cornerstones including housing, food supply and water and waste management. They build a judicious evidence base of the growing relevance of foundational economic thinking and its potential to provide a new political and social outlook on civil society and social justice.

Review Quotes

"Looking for new ways of organising the economy? Here are examples of how the things most important for well-being are best provided by involving citizens actively in their provision." Andrew Sayer, Lancaster University

"Dramatically advances our understanding of how societies can determine the moral standards that their economies must meet to establish a practical yet humane obligation to citizens." Mark Granovetter, Stanford University

About the Author

Filippo Barbera is Professor of Economic Sociology in the CPS Department at the University of Turin and is affiliated with the Collegio Carlo Alberto.

Ian Rees Jones is Professor of Sociological Research at Cardiff University and the Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods (WISERD).