Economist Heikki Pursiainen: Both Left and Right Now Have Illiberal Thinkers

Economist Heikki Pursiainen found himself deeply impressed after reading Amartya Sen's classic work, "Development as Freedom," earlier this year. This engagement with Sen's ideas stems from Pursiainen's own book project, which he is currently working on under the working title "Market Economy and Its Enemies." The book focuses on contemporary critiques of capitalism.

In preparation for his own work, Pursiainen has immersed himself in a vast array of literature that challenges the market economy. His reading list includes works on donut economics, surveillance capitalism, space communism, papal alternative economics, and Trumpism. Amidst this critical landscape, Sen's book stood out to Pursiainen as a "liberal island."

Pursiainen observes a notable shift in contemporary political discourse, stating that "both the right and the left now have illiberal thinkers." This observation suggests a growing trend towards ideologies that diverge from traditional liberal democratic principles, impacting the discourse surrounding economic systems and political thought.

“

Luin alkuvuodesta taloustieteilijä Amartya Senin teoksen Development as Freedom (1999). Syynä on oma kirjahankkeeni. Teen kirjaa nykyisestä kapitalismikritiikistä työnimellä Markkinatalous ja sen viholliset.