Growth, Employment, Inequality, and the Environment

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

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2. The Long Run: Growth and Distribution

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Toward a Unified Theory of Capitalism

      • Adolfo Figueroa

      Pages 3-10

   3. Education and Human Capital Formation

      • Adolfo Figueroa

      Pages 11-27

   4. The Epsilon Society: A Dynamic Model

      • Adolfo Figueroa

      Pages 29-42

   5. The Omega Society: A Dynamic Model

      • Adolfo Figueroa

      Pages 43-55

   6. The Sigma Society: A Dynamic Model

      • Adolfo Figueroa

      Pages 57-68

   7. Unified Theory of Capitalism: A Growth and Distribution Model

      • Adolfo Figueroa

      Pages 69-93

3. The Very Long Run: Economic Growth and the Environment

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 95-95

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   2. Economic Growth under Environmental Stress

      • Adolfo Figueroa

      Pages 97-131

   3. Land Resources and Food Supply

      • Adolfo Figueroa

      Pages 133-151

   4. Economic Growth and Quality of Society

      • Adolfo Figueroa

      Pages 153-173

4. The Political Economy of the Unified Theory

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 175-175

      PDF

   2. Science-Based Public Policies

      • Adolfo Figueroa

      Pages 177-201

5. Back Matter

   Pages 203-219

   PDF

Growth, Employment, Inequality, and the Environment deals with the fundamental economic problems of our time: employment, inequality, the environment, and quality of life. These exciting new volumes are the first of their kind in which these problems are analyzed using a unified theory framework.

• Income inequality
• labor markets
• unemployment
• excess labor supply
• overpopulation
• economic growth
• First World countries
• Third World countries
• entropy law
• environment
• capitalist system
• economic assets distribution
• political entitlements distribution
• power structure
• colonial legacy
• capitalism
• economics
• employment
• entropy
• growth
• inequality
• labor market

"Figueroa has provided a coherent epistemological framework and derived from it operational policies for addressing the major problems of our time. A stimulating and challenging book!" - Herman Daly, Professor Emeritus, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland, USA

"This is a challenging and fearless book the outcome of an entire scholarly life. Figueroa builds a theory of the capitalist system, relating first and third worlds, which focuses on power as the exogenous variable. He throws down the gauntlet to the neo-classical paradigm. With careful methodology he derives the conclusion that given present power structures, output growth creates over time social disorder, inequality and environmental degradation. The solution, he argues, lies in true 'citizens' democracy'." - Rosemary Thorp, Emeritus Fellow, Oxford University, UK

"Figueroa's thoughtful book is timeless, but happens to come at the right time: as we approach the identification of a new set of sustainable development goals in the family of United Nations, a unified theory integrating economic growth, distribution, and environmental degradation over the short and long run is urgently needed to provide the underpinning for sound development strategy." - Joachim von Braun, Professor and Director, Center for Development Research, University of Bonn, Germany

"This book provides a comprehensive model of global capitalism consistent with key historical facts about economic growth and distribution over the past two hundred years. It is also a powerful analysis of how diverse colonial experiences continue to shape the world economy. Distilled over many years, Figueroa's analysis is as pure as the finest Peruvian pisco, and merits savouring at least as much as the recent contributions of Thomas Piketty." -James Copestake, Professor, University of Bath, UK

Adolfo Figueroa is Professor Emeritus of Economics of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. He has taught and participated in collaborative research in American and British universities. He received his PhD in Economics from Vanderbilt University, USA in 1972. He studied there under the influence and guidance of Professor Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen, the famous bio-economist.

Policies and ethics