By Mary Mellor
It’s been called the root of all evil, and many other things besides, but what exactly does money mean? Where does it come from, and how does it work? In Money; Myths, Truths and Alternatives, Mary Mellor seeks to answer these questions, examining the social, political, and commercial history of money. Mellor debunks a number of received notions as little more than longstanding myths, like the idea that money is in short supply and needs to always come from somewhere.
Money; Myths, Truths and Alternatives also moves beyond merely setting straight the record on money: Mellor lays out a radical framework for restructuring our current financial systems. Arguing that money’s immense social value means that its creation and circulation should be a matter of democratic choice, Mellor advocates for a system that is driven more heavily by concerns for the environment and gender equality, musing that perhaps one day, money could become the root of all good.
Lecture by Mellor on Money
Relevant Links
- "Our conception of money is based in fairytale – this has led us to austerity" - article by Mellor in The Independent, 22 June 2019 / "Neoliberalism has tricked us into believing a fairytale about where money comes from" - article by Mellor in The Conversation, 22 June 2019 (same article published at two places)
- "Mary Mellor on the myths about money" - podcast on Transforming Society, 25 June 2019
Table of Contents of Money; Myths, Truths and Alternatives
- Introduction: Unlocking the Mysteries of Money
- A Fairy Tale about Money: Myths and Their Consequences
- Old Magic: Money before States and Markets
- The King Was in His Counting House: Money and the State
- Conjuring Money out of Thin Air: Money and Banking
- The Sorcerer's Apprentice: Magic Money Out of Control
- Ditching the Sorcerer: Money without the State
- Breaking the Spell: Money for the People
About Mary Mellor
Mary Mellor is Emeritus Professor at Northumbria University, where she was founding Chair of the University's Sustainable Cities Research Institute. She has published extensively on alternative economics integrating socialist, feminist and green perspectives. Her books include Debt or Democracy (Pluto, 2015), The Future of Money (Pluto, 2010) and The Politics of Money (Pluto, 2002).
