New Titles in Business & Economics — FY2026: Economics Book Funds

Making Money Work How to Rewrite the Rules of Our Financial System by Matt Sekerke; Steve H. Hanke The Global Financial Crisis broke the monetary system. Here's how to fix it. In Making Money Work: How to Rewrite the Rules of Our Financial System, Matt Sekerke and Steve H. Hanke deliver a rigorous and fascinating exploration of the monetary economy. You'll find a detailed and clear roadmap of how and why fiat money is created and destroyed, its connections to the broader economy, and the objective mechanisms that underwrite and maintain its value. In their exploration, Sekerke and Hanke solve many problems and puzzles and shed light on several important questions: Why economists misunderstand the structure and function of the monetary system The central role of the commercial banking system in fiat money regimes, and why commercial banks are not like other financial intermediaries The economic and regulatory constraints on bank money creation The interplay between banking and capital markets in funding investment projects How the "banks" that dominate the international financial landscape distort the lines between banking and capital markets business Why banking regulation and fiscal policy determine and constrain monetary policy to an equal or greater extent than central bank actions Sekerke and Hanke trace important post-crisis policy developments and sketch the broad strokes of a new operating model that would restore the performance of the monetary system and make better use of aggregate savings: Making neutrality the explicit goal of monetary policy, properly understood Increasing the supply of bankable projects and keeping them on bank balance sheets Breaking the financial system's fatal attraction to land and real estate Reducing regulatory distortions in lending markets Reforming universal banking institutions and stimulating competition Transitioning to a quantity-based monetary policy framework An engaging and incisive guide to the global systems of money and banking, Making Money Work is destined to become a sought-after classic for bankers, finance professionals, policymakers, regulators, academics, and laypeople with an interest in money and banking.

Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare by Edward Fishman AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "Deftly written, Chokepoints is a compelling and dramatic narrative about the new shape of geopolitics." -- Daniel Yergin, The Wall Street Journal "A timely, riveting world tour...[An] absorbing book." -- The Economist "Remarkable...One of the most important books on economic warfare ever written." -- Paul Kennedy, author of The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers The epic story of how America turned the world economy into a weapon, upending decades of globalization to take on a new authoritarian axis--Russia, China, and Iran. It used to be that ravaging another country's economy required blockading its ports and laying siege to its cities. Now all it takes is a statement posted online by the U.S. government. In Chokepoints, Edward Fishman, a former top State Department sanctions official, takes us deep into the back rooms of power to reveal the untold history of the last two decades of U.S. foreign policy, in which America renounced the gospel of globalization and waged a new kind of economic war. As Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Ayatollah Khamenei wreaked havoc on the world stage, mavericks within the U.S. government built a fearsome new arsenal of economic weapons, exploiting America's dominance in global finance and technology. Successive U.S. presidents have relied on these unconventional weapons to address the most pressing national-security threats, for good and for ill. Chokepoints provides a thrilling account of one of the most critical geopolitical developments of our time, demystifying the complex strategies the U.S. government uses to harness the power of Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and Big Oil against America's enemies. At the center of the narrative is an eclectic group of policy innovators: the diplomats, lawyers, and financial whizzes who've masterminded America's escalating economic wars against Russia, China, and Iran. Economic warfare has become the primary way the United States confronts international crises and counters rivals. Sometimes it has achieved spectacular success; other times, bitter failure. The result we live with today is a new world order: an economic arms race among great powers and a fracturing global economy. Chokepoints is the definitive account of how America pioneered this new, hard-hitting style of economic war--and how it's changing the world.

Crypto the Disruptor: Rise of Money from Barter to Bitcoin by Mukesh Jindal The Indian crypto market has experienced an exponential surge in the past few years and become a vehicle to get rich quickly. However, what exactly is crypto? How did we reach the crypto stage-- a decentralized system of finance-- from the barter system? Crypto the Disruptor answers these and other such penetrating questions as it traces the history of money and the global economy. Providing a deep historical perspective, the author, through stories, captures the journey of the world' s financial system from the stone-age to the present. It analyses the movement of the world economic system from a centralized entity to a decentralized one and emphasizes the role of technology in the transformation of the global financial system. More importantly, this book explores the emergence of new forms of money such as cryptocurrencies and their relevance in a new world driven by digital technology. The final chapter educates readers about crypto investing in India and how investors should approach this new asset class, which is volatile yet offers great potential to create stupendous wealth.

The Economic Consequences of Mr Trump: What The Trade War Means For The World by Philip Coggan Economic policy set at the whim of one man.Tariffs up one day and down the next.Businesses bewildered, consumers alarmed.As Donald Trump wages his trade war, what will become of a global economy dependent on close trading links?Leading financial journalist Philip Coggan lifts the lid on Trump's economic gamble, why it's a universal threat and how we can make sense of this new 'age of chaos'. This is his clear-sighted and powerful rallying cry in defence of global trade - and why it matters for the world.

Empty Vessel: The Story of the Global Economy in One Barge by Ian Kumekawa The rise of globalization and financialization as seen from a barge--one Swedish barge, to be exact, built in 1979 "The many-headed hydra of neoliberalism has found its chronicler." --Sven Beckert, author of Empire of Cotton "I've rarely read a book that so deftly entwines a single, accessible story with the broad forces of globalization. A stunningly original history." --Maya Jasanoff, author of The Dawn Watch What do a barracks for British troops in the Falklands War, a floating jail off the Bronx, and temporary housing for VW factory workers in Germany have in common? The Balder Scapa: a single barge that served all three roles. Though the name would eventually change to Finnboda 12. And then to Safe Esperia. And later on, to the Bibby Resolution. And after that . . . in short, a vessel with so many names, and so many fates, that to keep it in our sights--as the protagonist of this fascinating economic parable--Ian Kumekawa has no choice but to call it, simply, the Vessel.  Despite its sturdy steel structure, weighing 9,500 deadweight tons, the Vessel is a figure as elusive and abstract as the offshore market it comes to embody: a world of island tax havens, exploited labor forces, free banking zones, Thatcherism, Reaganomics, and mass incarceration, where even the prisoners are held offshore. Fitted with modular shipping containers, themselves the product of standardized global trade, the ship could become whatever the market demanded. Whether caught in an international dispute involving Hong Kong, Nigeria, Indonesia, and the Virgin Islands--to be settled in an English court of law--or flying yet another foreign "flag of convenience" to mask its ownership--the barge is ever a container for forces much larger than even its hulking self.  Empty Vessel is a jaw-dropping microhistory that speaks volumes about the global economy as a whole. In following the Vessel--and its Sister Vessel, built alongside it in Stockholm--from one thankless task to the next, Kumekawa connects the dots of a neoliberal world order in the making, where regulation is for suckers and "Made in USA" feels almost quaint.

How Countries Go Broke: The Big Cycle. by Ray. Dalio #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "Advance copies of Ray Dalio's new book about how countries go broke have become a hot read in Washington." --The New York Times "This book is a gift to humanity....Ray provides a solution to what is the biggest and most certain threat to our prosperity." --Henry M. Paulson Jr. "An invaluable resource for policymakers, investors, and citizens." --Lawrence H. Summers An urgent warning about the American economy from Ray Dalio, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Principles. Do big government debts threaten our collective well-being? Are there limits to debt growth? Can a big, important reserve currency country like the United States really go broke--and what would that look like? For decades, politicians, policymakers, and investors have debated these questions, but the answers have eluded them. In this groundbreaking book, Ray Dalio, one of the greatest investors of our time who anticipated the 2008 global financial crisis and the 2010-12 European debt crisis, shares for the first time his detailed explanation of what he calls the "Big Debt Cycle." Understanding this cycle is critical for helping policymakers, investors, and the general public grasp where we are and where we are headed with the debt issue. Dalio's model points toward surprisingly straightforward solutions for dealing with the debt problems that the US, Europe, Japan, and China face today. How Countries Go Broke also shows how these debt problems are related to the other forces--political within countries, geopolitical between countries, natural (droughts, floods, and pandemics), and technological (most importantly, AI)--that together are causing what Dalio calls the "Overall Big Cycle" changes in the world order. By reading this book, you will improve your understanding of what's happening now and what to do about it.

How Things Are Made: A Journey Through the Hidden World of Manufacturing by Tim Minshall SHORTLISTED FOR THE ROYAL SOCIETY TRIVEDI SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE LONGLISTED FOR THE FT SCHRODERS BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD An illuminating tour through the manufacturing world and its seismic influence on our lives, from internationally renowned expert Tim Minshall We live in a manufactured world. Unless you are floating naked through space, you are right now in direct contact with multiple manufactured products, including furniture, technology, clothing, and even food. And yet the processes by which these things appear in our lives are virtually invisible. How often do we stop to think: Where do the things we buy actually come from? How are they made, and how do they make their way into our hands? The answers can be found in How Things Are Made, which traces the surprising paths taken by everyday items to reach consumers, from design to creation to delivery. Innovation expert Tim Minshall takes us on a journey through the manufacturing world, from the smallest job shops to mega-factories, from global shipping hubs to local delivery at your door, revealing the inner workings of the system that runs 24-7-365 to make and deliver the things we need--or want--to live our daily lives, including cars, cakes, phones, planes, drugs, and medical devices. Along the way, he explores how we can improve the fragility of our global manufacturing system and the impact it has on the natural world, presenting a path to a truly sustainable future. Brimming with energy and lively examples, How Things Are Made maps the awe-inspiring global system of manufacturing that enables virtually every aspect of our existence. By making sense of this surprising and hidden world, we are able to make better choices for ourselves, our communities, and the planet.

The Illicit Global Economy: What Everyone Needs to Know by Peter Andreas The illicit global economy encompasses cross-border flows of goods, people, money, and information unauthorized by either the sending or receiving country. Typically, this means flows that are prohibited (endangered species and narcotics), regulated (migrants, cigarettes, arms), stolen (art and antiquities), or counterfeit (ranging from prescription medicines to currency). Some of these flows are obscure (the black-market trade in bear bile) or mostly a law enforcement nuisance (cross-border trade in stolen vehicle parts), but others receive enormous policy and media attention (drug trafficking and human smuggling). Still others have severe environmental impacts (toxic waste, illegal logging, overfishing, and poaching) and security implications (sanctions busting and arms trafficking). Collectively, these flows reflect the illicit side of the global economy. The Illicit Global Economy: What Everyone Needs to Know® answers the key questions about how illicit global markets are structured and operate, how they intersect with state institutions and practices, how they interact with the legal economy, and how they shape and are shaped by domestic and international politics. This pithy yet authoritative primer helps readers make sense of a crucial part of the global economy that is too often either neglected or distorted. In this regard, an underlying theme in the book is the need for a more historically informed critical perspective that challenges the many myths and misconceptions about the illicit global economy that are all-too-prevalent in contemporary media accounts, Hollywood depictions, popular books, and policy debates.

Marketcrafters: The 100-Year Struggle to Shape the American Economy by Chris Hughes A revelatory and unexpected examination of the political economy of the past century--and an argument that policymakers in government, not the mythical "free market," created the most dynamic economy the world has ever known. For many decades, a sacred myth has ruled the minds of policymakers and business leaders: free markets, untouched by the soiled hands of government, bring us prosperity and stability. But it's wrong. American policymakers, on the right and the left, have spent much of the past century actively shaping our markets for social and political goals. Their work behind the scenes and out of the headlines has served as a kind of "marketcraft," resembling the statecraft of international relations. Economist and writer Chris Hughes takes us on a journey through the modern history of American capitalism, relating the captivating stories of the most effective marketcrafters and the ones who bungled the job. He reveals how both Republicans and Democrats have consistently attempted to organize markets for social and political reasons, like avoiding gasoline shortages, reducing inflation, fostering the American aviation and semiconductor industries, fighting climate change, and supporting financial innovation. In recent decades, the art of marketcraft has been lost to history, replaced by the myth that markets work best when they are unfettered and free. Hughes argues that by rediscovering the triumphs and failures of past marketcrafters, we can shape future markets, such as those in artificial intelligence and clean power production, to be innovative, stable, and inclusive. Groundbreaking, timely, and illuminating, this is a must-read for anyone interested in economic policy, financial markets, and the future of the American economy.

Slow down or Die: The Economics of Degrowth by Timothée Parrique; Claire Benoit (Translator) A Publishers Weekly Most Ancitipated Book of Spring 2025 A bold call to abandon the myth of endless economic growth and embrace a sustainable, just, and thriving future.  ★ "Blistering debut... An urgent and elegant challenge to the status quo."--Publishers Weekly (starred review) One of the most deeply ingrained beliefs of our age is that perpetual economic growth is the solution to most, if not all, of society's problem. In Slow Down or Die, French economist Timothée Parrique brilliantly challenges this myth, demonstrating how producing more won't solve climate change, poverty, or inequality. In fact, our obsession with growth is accelerating social and ecological collapse.  Parrique argues that we don't need endless growth to prosper; instead, we must radically rethink how our economies are organized. He reveals that the GDP, the standard measure of progress, is blind to human well-being and environmental health, making it a poor--and indeed, dangerous--guide for the future.  This book proposes a different vision, tracing a path toward a "post-growth" economy where decisions are made collectively and democratically. The goal is not the infinite accumulation of wealth but the creation of a just, equitable, and sustainable society. In this accessible and inspiring work, Parrique invites us to embrace a future of moderation and shared prosperity, proving that slowing down is the key to true progress and equality. 

Space to Grow: Unlocking the Final Economic Frontier by Matthew Weinzierl; Brendan Rosseau Your guide--using the compelling stories of changemakers and the tools of economics--to the transformation and future possibilities of the business and economics of space. Space is a place of unparalleled possibility for humanity, and it's undergoing a revolution. A wave of companies led by gutsy entrepreneurs is unlocking opportunities that fire the imagination and open up new business models. No, it's not hotels on Mars or day trips to orbit (yet), but it's an awe-inspiring transformation driven by innovative technologies, creative approaches, hard work, and--for the first time--market forces. Above all, this revolution is uncovering the simple but unfamiliar truth that space is a place: a place where countries, markets, and each of us can play a vital role in realizing some of our biggest, boldest dreams. But we won't succeed through dreams alone. The space economy is just that--an economy--governed by the same laws of supply and demand that apply here on Earth. The authors, who teach a highly popular course on the topic at Harvard Business School, bring the revolution in space to life through players you know--like SpaceX and Blue Origin--and many you may not, like Astroscale, founded by a Japanese IT executive who quit his job to start a company to clean up space debris. They also bring to bear fundamental tools from economics to understand how the market in space is forming, how it's fast becoming a source of value for businesses across industries and for society as a whole, and how we can best ensure that its growth benefits us all. With clarity and rigor, Weinzierl and Rosseau get past the breathless hype to explain what's real, what's not, what comes next, and how you can be part of it.

Stuck: How the Privileged and the Propertied Broke the Engine of American Opportunity by Yoni Appelbaum How did America cease to be the land of opportunity? We take it for granted that good neighborhoods--with good schools and good housing--are only accessible to the wealthy. But in America, this wasn't always the case. Though for most of world history, your prospects were tied to where you were born, Americans came up with a revolutionary idea: If you didn't like your lot in life, you could find a better location and reinvent yourself there. Americans moved to new places with unprecedented frequency, and, for two hundred years, that remarkable mobility was the linchpin of American economic and social opportunity.   In this illuminating debut, Yoni Appelbaum, historian and journalist for The Atlantic, shows us that this idea has been under attack since reformers first developed zoning laws to ghettoize Chinese Americans in nineteenth-century Modesto, California. The century of legal segregation that ensued--from the zoning laws enacted to force Jewish workers back into New York's Lower East Side to the private-sector discrimination and racist public policy that trapped Black families in Flint, Michigan to Jane Jacobs' efforts to protect her vision of the West Village--has raised housing prices, deepened political divides, emboldened bigots, and trapped generations of people in poverty. Appelbaum shows us that these problems have a common explanation: people can't move as readily as they used to. They are, in a word, stuck. Cutting through more than a century of mythmaking, Stuck tells a vivid, surprising story of the people and ideas that caused our economic and social sclerosis and lays out common-sense ways to get Americans moving again.