A Free Lunch

How to really prosper after capitalism’s closing down sale

By

Herman Royce

For mum and dad, who kept me going, & for Anika, who made it worthwhile

Contents

Prologue

Part One    There Ain’t No Such Thing As…

Chapter 1   Symptoms & Disease

1.1 Half Empty Or Half Full?

1.2 Forests Of Trees

1.3 Second Opinions

1.4 The Economy & Other Disorders

1.5 Profits Of Doom

Chapter 2   Costs & Prices

2.1 Rubbery Figures

2.2 The ‘Law’ of Supply & Demand

2.3 ‘Perfect’ Competition

2.4 God-like Rationality

2.5 The Invisible Hand

Chapter 3   Science & Religion

3.1 The Dismal Science

3.2 Normative & Positive

3.3 Models & Assumptions

3.4 Prediction & Myth

3.5 Sustaining Faith

Chapter 4   Money & Wealth

4.1 Can You Believe It?

4.2 Vested Interest

4.3 Liquid Delusion

4.4 Speculation

4.5 Inflation

Chapter 5   Profits, Jobs & Holy Growth

5.1 Employmentism

5.2 The Manic Depressive Market

5.3 Regulating The Free Market

5.4 Failed Remedies

5.5 Losing The Game

Part Two    …A Free Lunch

Chapter 6   Choices

6.1 Rule

6.2 Self-determination

6.3 Representation

6.4 Rights & Duties

Chapter 7   Needs & Wants

7.1 Cost And Price Equalisation

7.2 Saving Work

7.3 Attitudes & Motivation

7.4 Determining & Doing

7.5 Affording

7.6 Plurocratic Market Signals

7.7 Stewardship

7.8 Accounting

7.9 The Fine Print

Chapter 8   Nutritious Options

8.1 The Value Of Money

8.2 Fair Trade

8.3 Fairer Trade

8.4 Development

8.5 Surplus

8.6 Sharing

8.7 Creativity

Chapter 9   DIY Utopia

9.1 A Free Lunch Menu

9.2 Change

9.3 Resistance

9.4 Transition

Appendix    Monetarism: Never Mind The Quality