The Cost of Living Crisis (and how to get out of it) - A new book by Costas Lapavitsas
SOAS’s Professor of Economics, Costas Lapavitsas, together with James Meadway and Doug Nicholls, are releasing a new book: The Cost of Living Crisis (and how to get out of it). An official book launch set for Monday 20 February 2023 will be held at Hamilton House in central London.
The new book provides an incisive analysis of the current inflation crisis in the UK and more broadly. With relevant discussions on the weaknesses of the side of production, interest rates, “printing” money, and government spending, Lapavitsas, Meadway, and Nicholls, have put together chapters that, as they say, will straighten and reveal what has been distorted and hidden by mainstream media.
They argue it’s the fall in real wages during inflation, that causes record profits. They delve into the root issues surrounding low investment and poor productivity growth. And they do it all in a simple, tell-it-straight, plain-speaking way.
The authors of the book have a rich breadth of experience and knowledge between them. Costas Lapavitsas is a Professor of Economics here at SOAS University of London. He is also a member of the academic staff, a Steering Committee Member, and MSc Programme Convener at SOAS’s Japanese Research Centre.
Lapavitsas was also a member of Research on Money and Finance that produced widely read analyses of the Eurozone crisis. His previous publications include Profiting Without Producing and The Left Case Against the EU. IN 2015 he was elected to the Greek Parliament with the first SYRIZA government.
James Meadway is a former political advisor to John McDonnell who served as Shadow Chancellor to the Exchequer from 2015 to 2020. Meadway was also former chief economist at the New Economics Foundation, and has taught Economics at SOAS, Cambridge, Sussex, and City universities.
Doug Nicholls is General Secretary of the General Federation of Trade Unions. Nicholls is also on the National Advisory Panel for the Centre for Labour and Social Studies.
Lapavitsas and Meadway will be speaking at the book launch. The event, calling for “a radical economic alternative”, will be held on Monday 20 February 2023, 6pm, in Hamilton House (WC1H 9BB).
A number of guest speakers will also be present, first on this list is Eddie Dempsey, the Assistant General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, a trade union in the UK. Laura Smith, a Labour party politician, will also be attending in her own capacity, as well as Sarah Woolley from Bakers, Food, and Allied Workers Union.
To reserve your spot at the book launch and for further information, please see the main event page here.
