Ours: The Case for Universal Property

by Peter Barnes

We think our wealth today comes from productive corporations and workers, but they merely add icing to a cake baked long ago. In this provocative book, Peter Barnes argues that most of today's wealth is co-inherited from nature and past human efforts, not individually earned. If some of that co-inherited wealth were placed in trust for each of us, living and yet-to-be born – creating what Barnes calls “universal property” – capitalism would be fundamentally transformed. As Barnes notes, capitalism as we know it has two tragic it relentlessly widens inequality and destroys nature. Both flaws are a result of one-sided property rights that favor capital over everything else. Adding universal property to the current property mix would create a market economy in which businesses prosper, nature’s limits are respected, and a large middle class thrives. This smart and concise book could set the agenda for a post-COVID world.

Genres: Economics

140 pages, Hardcover

Published September 7, 2021

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. This entry is for the English playwright and screenwriter.

Reviews

[Nancy Nordman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal book - highly recommend!

[Zack Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author articulates some of the most daunting challenges we face as a society and makes a compelling case for how to solve them. Whether you're a Democrat, Republican, economist, environmentalist, or just a concerned citizen of the world – this book offers ideas that all folks have good reason to support. Now if only lawmakers in Washington and around the world would pay attention!