Free-Market Champions

About the Book

“Is economics a science – as many of its exponents claim? This author completely rejects such claims and locates much, if not all, of the theories in current economics to straightforward mysticism. Using this approach, and the observations of many of the towering historical figures from within the discipline, he explores the avenues and results such mysticism has achieved throughout the ages. But if economics is not a science, it remains much more than a topic for after-dinner conversation in the clubs of informed intellectuals. The application of informed common-sense - mainly, the informed common-sense of John Maynard Keynes - previously led society to the achievement of undreamed-of societal affluence. It is contended that it is primarily the contemporary neglect of this gentleman`s perspectives, and the re-newed substitution of these by centuries-old theories, which has led us to the contemporary economic chaos generated by the figures described as “free-market champions”. The book therefore ends with a plea for us to return to the “Keynesian” perspectives whose application proved to be so beneficial to society at large. The book is in no way intended as a text-book on economics; it is, rather, a story woven from the economic discipline.”

About the Author

Alistair Bryson was born in Ayr, Scotland, in 1945. He is the fourth child of a family which eventually increased to six offspring. The family was completely working class in its origins, and it is therefore no surprise that, in the time-honoured Scottish tradition, at age 16, he joined the military to escape what would otherwise have been the only alternative of factory employment. His military career as a photographer in the RAF ended in 1972 when he took advantage of the Scottish educational system and enrolled as a student at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, studying economics to ordinary-degree level, and finally business administration for his honours’ degree. His gratitude for the opportunity given by his native country should be noted. Thereafter, various managerial occupations in the photographic and publishing industries culminated in the forming, together with a close colleague, of a trade publishing company in Singapore. Well travelled in both Europe and Asia/China, he has lived many years in his adopted country, Germany; his wife is a native of this country. Both are very proud grandparents of three grandchildren. Alistair is now retired; the Singapore company continues to flourish at both the Asian and Chinese level, and this, he believes, is mainly due to resourceful and energetic management by the colleague with whom he formed the company. This is his first book and is very likely to be his only one.