{"product_id":"2940170179398","title":"The Economists' Hour: False Prophets, Free Markets, and the Fracture of Society","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIn this fascinating character-driven history, a \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003eeditorial writer and Pulitzer Prize finalist spotlights the American economists who championed the rise of markets and fundamentally reshaped the modern world.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBefore the 1960s, American politicians had never paid much attention to economists. But as the post-World War II boom began to sputter, economists gained influence and poweramp;mdash;first in the United States and then around the world as their ideas inspired nations to curb government, unleash corporations, and hasten globalization.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMilton Friedman's libertarian ideals, Arthur Laffer's supply-side economics and Paul Volcker's austere campaign against inflation all left a profound mark on American life. So did lesser-known figures like Walter Oi, a blind economist whose calculations influenced President Nixon's decision to end military conscription; Alfred Kahn, who deregulated air travel; and Thomas Schelling, who put a dollar value on human life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe economists promised steady growth and broadly-shared prosperity, but they failed to deliver. Instead, the single-minded embrace of markets has come at the expense of soaring economic inequality, the faltering health of liberal democracy, and the prospects of future generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTimely, engaging, and expertly researched, \u003ci\u003eThe Economists' Hour\u003c\/i\u003e is a \"powerful must-read\" (Mohamed A. El-Erian, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author) about the rise and fall of a revolutionamp;mdash;and a compelling call for people to retake control of markets.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hachette Audio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47100620833008,"sku":"2940170179398","price":25.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940170179398_p0.jpg?v=1763704012","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940170179398","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}