Building a Solidarity Society

BUILDING A SOLIDARITY SOCIETY Is it the impossible dream: a caring and sustainable society that fosters the flourishing of people and planet? Many are deeply skeptical about whether such a transformative change is a goal worth pursuing. But pursuit of this goal may be our only realistic choice; the misuse of power then is the obstacle to be overcome. This book leads the skeptical reader — whether college student or underpaid worker — on an exploration of the priorities of the powerful, the economic theories that justify their decisions, and the alternative world views that are firing the imagination and efforts of activists across the globe.

Economist Marianne Hill speaks to those who worry that switching from a capitalist to a democratic economy would kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. Drawing on cutting-edge scholarship, she explores why people accept a status quo in which the few have the right to control the labor of the many, and the right to distribute the wealth collectively created. Research findings, data and stories drawn from the COVID-19 pandemic and other recent crises are used to explain why plutocrats show little concern for the economic distress and insecurity suffered by so many.

Steps can be taken to move us towards a more humane and sustainable way of living. Exciting possibilities are presented, based on recent manifestos, party platforms, books and documents. Advocates for a caring solidarity society are many and, once united, can be the force that redistributes power in firms, families and society. This book aims to foster the clarity, cohesion and courage that can ensure their success.

 

 

“Every so often an economist writes an approachable book that dares to capture the imagination of those looking for big ideas. Marianne Hill has done just that, with this fascinating volume on how to promote shared prosperity and save our planet by changing the existing power structures and building a new kind of caring society. Readers will see phenomena such as hurricanes, cocoa farming, and corporations in a whole new light and will be empowered to change the status quo.”

— Yana van der Meulen Rodgers, Professor, Rutgers University

“Marianne Hill examines the inequality in power and resources in the U.S. economy and shows how solidaristic movements can redistribute those more equitably. Highly recommended for social science undergraduates."

— Michael Reich, Professor, University of California at Berkeley

“Enlightening examination of the costs of the domination of U.S. politics and economics
by the wealthy, interpenetrated by insightful discussion of ways forward to the qualitative,
systemic change needed if we are to build an economy that truly serves people and planet.
Hill puts class and power at the forefront of her analysis, and draws upon a wide variety
of sources and examples to make her case that radical democracy is the way forward.”
—Julie Matthaei, Professor Emerita of Economics, Wellesley College and Boardmember, U.S.
Solidarity Economy Network


“Dr. Hill uses examples from the Hurricane Katrina disaster, the financial crisis of 2008
and the COVID pandemic to show how power can shape economic outcomes. The power
relations which direct policy are typically overlooked in more mainstream economic texts.
Hill critiques the theories found in those texts from her heterodox perspective. With an
eye to the future, she outlines a feasible path to a more just and egalitarian economic
system, and presents key features of that system. Those working for such a society will
find useful references from current leaders of the movement for a solidaristic future.”
—Mark Klinedinst, Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Southern Mississippi


“Marianne Hill directly challenges the power structure---both economic and political---
that is leading us towards the destruction of our planet. She shows what a transformed
culture and economy might look like, and gives us solid guidance on how we can get there. The reader will be left with a strong sense of what needs to be done to build a
caring and sustainable society.”
—Susan B. Inches, Author, Advocating for the Environment and former Deputy Director
of the Maine State Planning Office


“Delightfully written, this book is a gem that explains contemporary political economy
to an everyday reader. Marianne Hill shows how the dynamics of recent events have
been propelled by the interests of a wealthy elite. The intent and actions of this elite
are critically examined using both theory and evidence. Dr. Hill’s scholarly pursuits and
intellectual battles with mainstream economics inform this work, making it a unique
resource. She advocates for a democratically controlled market economy as a step towards
a society truly dedicated to the flourishing of people and planet.”
—Farida Khan, Professor of Economics, University of Colorado


“Marianne Hill offers a cogent and powerful discussion of the underlying fault lines of
our society and provides a roadmap to move forward. The discussion starts where it
must: with power, the force that pits people against each other and is blocking people’s
ability to realize their full potential as individuals and groups. It then points the way
to move forward to construct alternatives, based on the author’s own experience and
her ample interaction with people actively engaged in promoting constructive alternatives
contributing to build a better world for all of us.”
—David Barkin, Profesor Distinguido, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana-Unidad
Xochimilco, Ciudad de México

Marianne Hill is a radical, feminist economist who received her Ph.D. in economics from Yale University in 1983. Besides teaching at universities, she did economic forecasting and research for the state of Mississippi and for Puerto Rico. She has several publications and has served on the boards of the Union for Radical Political Economics and the International Association for Feminist Economics