 |
 |
If you want a clear and concise description of the New Economy and Globalization and their impact on our future, you can find it in The Future of Success by Robert B. Reich. Reich, Bill Clinton`s first Secretary of Labor and former F.O.B. (Friend of Bill), now a professor at Brandeis, describes how advances in information technology have indeed created a worldwide New Economy, which, because of lower capital costs and the lowering of barriers to entry generally, has in turn created an international buyer`s market. This puts more pressure on all elements of business, thus giving rise to the anomaly of much more work and more stress in a time of economic plenty. Thus, The Future of Success: it's more available to more people than ever, but at real cost in time, effort and stress. Those of you who are familiar with Reich`s past will be surprised at his sympathetic approach to market-based economics and his less-than-expected call for more government solutions. Once the personification of Big Government (in a shorter-than-five-foot frame), Reich now acknowledges that private economic forces are the source of most economic activity and the most likely place to look for remedies (although he does suggest giving each individual a$60,000 "nest egg" upon reaching age 18-sort of reparations for having to grow up). Personally, I believe the present high stress aspect of our economic lives is temporary. The forces Reich describes are real, but stress comes from the dramatic acceleration in change we have been undergoing, which should cool down as we adjust to the new pace of the future. Also, more wealth ultimately leads to more choices and many will be enabled to opt out of the rat race and still lead comfortable lives. Affluence is largely a matter of wants rather than needs, and some may elect to have less than their peers and still be at a very standard living by world or historic measures. Reich writes very well, and I recommend The Future of Success highly. Also, highly recommended is his earlier Locked In The Cabinet, a hilarious account of his adventures as Secretary of Labor. Learn why his kids` dog was named "Waffle" and how to be a "muck." Jack Latona The Center for Creating the Future [email protected] |
| If you see a large area of white space, don't worry... this space will be filled with your comments and suggestions of other references (books, movies, articles) that people should consider... |
| Date of Review: June 2001 |