"Fleming succeeds in highlighting today’s vulnerabilities, although it would be naive to suggest that the world would be a better place without the market. Individual exploitation was common in the Soviet system; the welfare state and trade union movement crystallised patriarchy; and societies that provide for themselves – such as traditional extended families – can restrict the freedom of individual members, particularly women. Bad apples exist in all economies. When we blame markets, we would at times do better to point to dangerous social norms. Disposing of markets is, therefore, no panacea. The question is: What can be done? Fleming argues that this very question “is a trap”, although he does go on to offer some suggestions: universal basic income; outlawing sham self-employment and zero-hours contracts; growing the public sphere through greater regulation and “radical” bureaucracies; and alternative labour unions, such as the Independent Workers’ Union. Ultimately, however, his book is a call to cast aside the individual freedom agenda of neoclassical economics. To be honest, I’d rather keep the individual freedom bit but rebuild markets in a way that delivers more equitable and sustainable outcomes.

"Overall, Mr Fleming is very succinct at presenting the ‘dark side’ of the system. The ever-growing imbalance between rich and poor, sexual harassment in ‘replaceable’jobs, and the crisis of financial wellbeing (which our company, yulife, tries to tackle) are only a few of the valid problems he brings up in his book. However, Mr Fleming attributes all these concerns to the heart of the new economy, assuming that business owners are inherently motivated by sinister agendas and the desire to accumulate wealth. I believe that is wrong. As to the essence of the new economy, Mr Fleming seems to overlook the many benefits the system has. [...] On a broader level, like Mr Fleming suggests, government regulation regarding workers’ conditions may well be needed. However, it has to come hand-in-hand with ethical business. Leaders in the financial sphere should promote mission-driven businesses. That is how we should approach business: as a vehicle for doing good. Being moved forward by a vision and putting people first is not just the government’s job – it is our job too."