American democratic capitalism is in danger. How can we save it? For its first two hundred years the American economy exhibited truly impressive performance. The combination of democratically elected governments and a capitalist system worked with ever-increasing levels of efficiency spurred by division of lab or international trade and scientific management of companies. By the nations bicentennial celebration in 1976 The American economy was the envy of the world. But since then outcomes have changed dramatically. Growth in the economic prosperity of the average American family has slowed to a crawl while the wealth of the richest Americans has skyrocketed. This imbalance threatens the American democratic capitalist system and our way of life. In this bracing yet constructive book world-renowned business thinker Roger Martin starkly outlines the fundamental problem: we have treated the economy as a machine pursuing ever-greater efficiency as an inherent good. But efficiency has become too much of a good thing. Our obsession with it has inadvertently shifted the shape of our economy from a large middle class and smaller numbers of rich and poor (think of a bell-shaped curve) to a greater share of benefits accruing to a thin tail of already-rich Americans (a Pareto distribution). with lucid analysis and engaging anecdotes Martin argues that we must stop treating the economy as a perfectible machine and shift toward viewing it as a complex adaptive system in which we seek a fundamental balance of efficiency with resilience. To achieve this we need to keep in mind the whole w... See more
American democratic capitalism is in danger. How can we save it? For its first two hundred years the American economy exhibited truly impressive performance. The combination of democratically elected governments and a capitalist system worked with ever-increasing levels of efficiency spurred by division of lab or international trade and scientific management of companies. By the nations bicentennial celebration in 1976 The American economy was the envy of the world. But since then outcomes have changed dramatically. Growth in the economic prosperity of the average American family has slowed to a crawl while the wealth of the richest Americans has skyrocketed. This imbalance threatens the American democratic capitalist system and our way of life. In this bracing yet constructive book world-renowned business thinker Roger Martin starkly outlines the fundamental problem: we have treated the economy as a machine pursuing ever-greater efficiency as an inherent good. But efficiency has become too much of a good thing. Our obsession with it has inadvertently shifted the shape of our economy from a large middle class and smaller numbers of rich and poor (think of a bell-shaped curve) to a greater share of benefits accruing to a thin tail of already-rich Americans (a Pareto distribution). with lucid analysis and engaging anecdotes Martin argues that we must stop treating the economy as a perfectible machine and shift toward viewing it as a complex adaptive system in which we seek a fundamental balance of efficiency with resilience. To achieve this we need to keep in mind the whole while working on the component parts; pursue improvement not perfection; and relentlessly tweak instead of attempting to find permanent solutions. Filled with keen economic insight and advice for citizens executives policy makers and educators when more is not better is the must-read guide for saving democratic capitalism. Review Named the 2020 Porchlight Leadership & Strategy Book of the YearNamed one of the 10 Best New Business Books of 2020 by Inc. magazineNamed one of the Globe & Mails Best Business Books of 2020Named one of the Best books of 2020: Business by the Financial TimesA new book by Professor Roger Martin is always a major event for the evolution of management. • ForbesThis important new book blames a dangerous obsession with efficiency long the mantra and target of chief executives and finance directors worldwide and a foundation of modern capitalism. • Financial TimesDrawing from hard economic data and in-depth interviews with regular Americans Martin makes a persuasive case for rethinking perceived wisdom about the economy. Policy makers and business leaders will want to take note. • Publishers WeeklyAdvance Praise for When More Is Not Better:Roger Martin leverages his deep knowledge of economic systems to precisely diagnose the systemic shortcomings of the modern economy and his practical experience to lay out a pathway to an economy that works for all. A must-read. • Paul Polman cofounder and Chair IMAGINE; former CEO UnileverImportant if surprising messages. .. by one of the worlds most creative business minds. Roger Martin offers a realists path toward a more resilient America with concrete suggestions for business leaders politicians educators and citizens. • Dani Rodrik Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government; author Straight Talk on TradeWhen More Is Not Better shows what will truly set up our economy for long-term success: a better balance of efficiency and resilience. And its also the prescription we need as individuals. A must-read for our time! • Arianna Huffington founder and CEO Thrive GlobalRoger Martin is my generations Peter Drucker. He enables us to see beyond the traditional boundaries of business theory to the bigger system at play in our effic