The Death of Homo Economicus

In this short video, Peter Fleming, author of 'The Death of Homo Economicus' (Pluto, 2017), answers the questions 'who was homo economicus?' and 'how does its ghost continue to haunt us today?'

The book is available now from plutobooks.com

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In today's workplaces we work harder and longer, labouring under the illusion that this will bring us more wealth. As this myth becomes increasingly preposterous, it's time to understand why we believe in it, and where it came from.

The Death of Homo Economicus explores the origin of this oppressive myth, in order to destroy it. The story begins with the creation of a fake persona labelled the 'dollar-hunting man', invented by economists Adam Smith and Friedrich Hayek. Today, this persona, driven by competition and ego, is used by politicians and managers to draw a veil over the terrible reality of work under capitalism.

Creeping into all aspects of life, the desire to constantly compete and accumulate must be resisted if we are to create a better way of life for all.

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'The Death of Homo Economicus', © Pluto Press, 2019

Видео The Death of Homo Economicus канала Pluto Press