The Constructed Economy: How Policy Undermines The Middle Class - Couverture souple

Iglesias, Lorena

Couverture souple

ISBN 13 : 9798174269880

Editeur : Independently published, 2026

Synopsis

The Constructed Economy: How Policy Undermines The Middle Class shatters the pervasive myth that markets are natural, organic phenomena. For decades, this dangerous narrative of an “invisible hand” has underpinned policy decisions that have systematically reshaped economies, redistributed wealth, and eroded the very foundation of the middle class. This book reveals that economic outcomes are not inevitable; they are meticulously designed through specific rules, regulations, and enforcement mechanisms.

Far from emerging spontaneously, markets are deliberate constructs. Without foundational elements like rigorously defined property rights, enforceable contract law, and essential regulatory frameworks, what we perceive as a market devolves into chaos or kleptocracy. The book demonstrates how these legal and infrastructural systems—from deeds and courts to product safety standards and labor laws—are not impediments to a free market, but rather the very architecture that defines its scope, functions, and beneficiaries. The absence of government in these areas does not create a “free market”; it creates a predatory one, unable to generate broad-based prosperity.

This groundbreaking analysis exposes how policy choices, often cloaked in the rhetoric of “smaller government” or “market efficiency,” have actively created the economic landscape we inhabit. From the deliberate design of essential services like healthcare and energy—as exemplified by the catastrophic failures of deregulated markets—to the historical patterns of corporate power and media manipulation, every aspect of our economy is shown to be a direct outcome of policy decisions. The book meticulously traces how these choices have manufactured crises in social security, commodified public goods like education, and undermined the collective power of labor.

“The Constructed Economy” is an urgent call to understand the true nature of our economic system. It empowers readers to recognize that the struggles of the middle class are not accidental but are the direct result of intentional policy design. By unveiling the mechanisms through which economic power is concentrated and wealth is redistributed upwards, this book provides a critical framework for envisioning and building an economy that genuinely serves the public good.

Key insights from this essential read include:
- The foundational myth of the “natural market” and how it justifies policies that undermine societal well-being.
- How legal and regulatory frameworks are not market impediments but the deliberate architects of economic structure.
- The critical role of policy in defining what can be traded, under what conditions, and who ultimately benefits.
- A compelling critique of “smaller government” and deregulation as tools for economic redesign, often with devastating consequences for the middle class.
- A clear pathway for understanding and rebuilding an economy where policy actively fosters broad-based prosperity and democratic values.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Independently published
• Date d'édition: 2026
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 13: 9798174269880
• Reliure: Taschenbuch
• Nombre de pages: 139
• Coordonnées du fabricant: Manufactured by Amazon on behalf of the author; https://www.amazon.de/hz/contact-us; ; c/o Amazon Media EU S.à.r.l., 38 Avenue John F. Kennedy; Luxembourg; L-1855; Luxembourg