K. William Kapp’s heterodox theory of social costs proposes precautionary planning to pre-empt social costs and provide social benefits via socio-ecological safety standards that guarantee the gratification of basic human needs. Based on arguments from Thorstein Veblen, Karl Marx, and Max Weber, social costs are conceptualized as systemic and large-scale damages caused by markets. Kapp refutes neoclassical solutions, such as bargaining, taxation, and tort law, unmasking them as ineffective, inefficient, inconsistent, and too market-obedient. The chapters of this book present the social costs of markets and neoclassical economics, the social benefits of environmental controls, development planning, and the governance of science and technological standards. This book demonstrates the fruitfulness of the heterodox theory of social costs as a coherent framework to develop effective remedies for today’s urgent socio-ecological crises. This volume is suitable for readers at all levels who are interested in the theory of social costs, heterodox economics, and the history of economic thought.

In K. William Kapp's most important work, Social Costs and Social Benefits, he argued that social controls are necessary to both reduce the social costs and increase the social benefits of the economy - aspects which are neglected under a system of free enterprise. Merging arguments from Thorstein Veblen, Karl Marx and Max Weber, Kapp develops a genuinely heterodox theory that analyzes social costs as large-scale damages that are caused by markets and require systemic solutions. The core of this book are the chapters on the social costs of markets and neoclassical economics, the social benefits of environmental controls, development planning, and the governance of science and technology. These chapters convincingly argue for socio-ecological safety standards that yield social benefits and sustainable development. In this, Kapp refutes conventional solutions, such as bargaining, taxation, and tort law as ineffective, inefficient, inconsistent, and too market-obedient. This book demonstrates the fruitfulness of the heterodox theory on social costs. The latter is a coherent alternative to neoclassical economics and an effective remedy for urgent socio-economic and ecological problems. This volume is suitable for readers at all levels who are interested in the theory of social costs, heterodox economics, and the history of economic thought.

This book deals with the social costs of markets from a heterodox perspective. It deals with the degrading of work, decline of community, and rising income inequality in the United States as markets and especially financial markets come to dominate society. Of course, if there is an attempt to point out the social costs of markets, the response of mainstream economists is to silence the critics or even in Orwellian fashion redefine their critiques so as to eliminate any negative comments about markets. While critique is necessary, there also needs to be a constructive agenda, that is, the developing of an alternative, heterodox economic theory. So overall the book presents a critique of the social costs markets and the beginning of a heterodox economic theory of how the capitalist market system actually works.

Heterodox economics can provide a more complete and robust explanation of economic realities than orthodox (or mainstream) economics. Contemporary Issues in Heterodox Economics: Implications for Theory and Policy Action argues that this greater explanatory power gives heterodox economics the ability to illuminate appropriate policy for the major crises of our time, as well as proffer the basis for a more rounded, pluralist approach to economic theory. The chapters in this wide-ranging volume address some of the key issues facing the global economy, including the growing disparity of income/wealth between persons and economic areas, environmental degradation, issues associated with employment, and the regularity of economic/financial crises. The authors examine potential policy responses such as modern monetary theory, models of public ownership, and the need to move beyond standard concepts of growth. They also explore the deficiencies of orthodox economics, and contend that a more pluralist approach to economics is required in the public sphere, in academia, and in the classroom in order to help face the challenges of the twenty-first century. This book is invaluable reading for students and scholars across the social sciences who are interested in alternatives to mainstream economic thinking.

For over 50 years economists have argued that where private costs or benefits differ from social costs or benefits - in noise, smells, congestion, pollution of the environment - there is a 'clear case' for government intervention to correct the divergence. This argument has been used to justify almost endless intervention. However, the original analysts of social costs/benefits were led into error by failing to test their propositions against the evidence of real life. Painstaking empirical studies clearly demonstrate these errors. A divergence between private and social cost is no decisive justification for government action to correct it. The costs of intervention often outweigh the social benefits. Moreover, the alleged 'externalities' are merely uncontracted effects. Under private property rights, the use of contracts to transact what have been regarded as 'external' effects is far more common than has been commonly recognised.

The Routledge Handbook of Heterodox Economics presents a comprehensive overview of the latest work on economic theory and policy from a ‘pluralistic’ heterodox perspective. Contributions throughout the Handbook explore different theoretical perspectives including: Marxian-radical political economics; Post Keynesian-Sraffian economics; institutionalist-evolutionary economics; feminist economics; social economics; Régulation theory; the Social Structure of Accumulation approach; and ecological economics. They explain the structural properties and dynamics of capitalism, as well as propose economic and social policies for the benefit of the majority of the population. This book aims, firstly, to provide realistic and coherent theoretical frameworks to understand the capitalist economy in a constructive and forward-looking manner. Secondly, it delineates the future directions, as well as the current state, of heterodox economics, and then provides both ‘heat and light’ on controversial issues, drawing out the commonalities and differences among different heterodox economic approaches. The volume also envisions transformative economic and social policies for the majority of the population and explains why economics is, and should be treated as, a social science. This Handbook will be of compelling interest to those, including students, who wish to learn about alternative economic theories and policies that are rarely found in conventional economics textbooks or discussed in the mainstream media, and to critical economists and other social scientists who are concerned with analyzing pressing socio-economic issues.