The Finance Curse
How global finance is making us all poorer
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Vintage Publishing
Published:17th Oct '19
Should be back in stock very soon
This insightful book unveils the troubling dynamics of global finance, revealing how it primarily benefits a privileged few rather than the broader society. The Finance Curse offers a critical perspective.
In The Finance Curse, Nicholas Shaxson presents a compelling investigation into the complex world of global finance and its detrimental effects on society. He argues that while finance is essential for modern economies, its unchecked growth has transformed it into a curse that primarily benefits a select few. The City of London, as the epicenter of this financial drain, is depicted as a voracious entity that extracts talent and wealth from various sectors, all while demanding tax cuts and turning a blind eye to unethical practices such as money laundering.
Shaxson traces the roots of this financial curse through a historical lens, illustrating how we arrived at a point where finance holds an overwhelming influence over our lives. The narrative moves seamlessly from the exploration of offshore tax havens to the often opaque world of wealth management, revealing the mechanisms through which finance has established a stranglehold on society. This thorough examination not only highlights the problems but also calls for a re-evaluation of our financial systems to foster a more equitable society.
Ultimately, The Finance Curse serves as both a wake-up call and a manifesto for change. With endorsements from notable figures like Yanis Varoufakis and Oliver Bullough, the book emphasizes the urgent need for reform in the financial sector. Shaxson's work is not just informative; it is a rallying cry for those who seek to understand the intricate ties between finance and societal well-being.
Utterly convincing… The Finance Curse is a radical and important manifesto for improving Britain -- Oliver Bullough, author of MONEYLAND
This is a splendid polemic against modern finance, in general, and the City of London, in particular. It is hard-hitting, well written and informative. Instead of enabling productive investment, the predominant activity of contemporary finance is rent extraction. This comes in many different guises: modern finance does not only promote tax avoidance and evasion, but, argues Shaxson, enables gangsterism and corruption on an enormous scale. I fear he is right. -- Martin Wolf * Financial Times *
This superbly written book shows definitively how global finance has been grossly mis-sold to us all. It’s a must-read for anyone who lives, works and spends in this country -- MISHA GLENNY, author of McMafia
Gripping . . . a superbly written overview * Times Literary Supplement *
Searing… Shaxson has form on being prescient ... his ideas should not be dismissed lightly -- Caroline Binham * Financial Times *
If you want to understand why walls of money can be bad for an economy like Britain’s, and what we should do about it, The Finance Curse is essential reading. -- YANIS VAROUFAKIS
Compelling * Prospect *
Eight years ago Nick Shaxson wrote one of the best books about modern finance… Now Shaxson is back, with something bigger to say… forensic accounting analysis, sharp reporting and interviews -- John Arlidge * Sunday Times *
The book’s principle virtue springs from Shaxson’s skill in unpicking the complexity of the system and explaining it in layman’s terms… enlightening -- Emma Duncan * The Times *
A powerful call to arms against a self-serving, over-bearing and growth-sapping global finance system. -- Stewart Lansley, author of A Sharing Economy and The Cost of Inequality
ISBN: 9781784705046
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 23mm
Weight: 271g
384 pages