Icarus Economics

Name: Icarus Economics
Price: 34.99 AUD
Availability: PreOrder
ISBN: 9781805465317

Why Rich Economies Are Struggling - and How to Fix Them

John Rapley

$34.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Atlantic
28 April 2026

Economics & Business; Development economics; Finance; Global warming

Every leader comes to power promising growth: think back to the campaigns of Boris, Truss, Sunak, Starmer, Trump. Yet real-term income hasn't improved in the UK since 2008. Across the West, growth has stagnated for well over a decade, leading to cost of living crises, political instability and rising social tensions.

Is real economic growth still possible? And with the climate emergency accelerating beyond repair, should we still be pushing for it?

In Icarus Economics, acclaimed economist John Rapley argues that the problem of growth is inherently tied up with the climate crisis. We often assume that poor countries will bear the brunt of climate change, pandemics, and other exogenous shocks, but this book argues the opposite: western societies have more wealth and capital to lose and are less inherently resilient. In this book, he shows us how rich countries can grow their own economies by helping poor countries to decarbonise - and in the process, mitigate the effects of climate change.

By: John Rapley
Imprint: Atlantic
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: Main
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 138mm,
ISBN: 9781805465317
ISBN 10: 1805465317
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 28 April 2026
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

1: The Story of Our Ascent 2: Transcending Nature's Limits 3: The Pandemic Paradox 4: The Wealth Paradox 5: The Wealth Trap 6: The Kill Switch Within 7: The Icarus Economy 8: The Middle Course

John Rapley is a Senior Fellow at the Johannesburg Institute of Advanced Studies. His books include Twilight of the Money Gods and Why Empires Fall (co-authored with Peter Heather).

Reviews for Icarus Economics: Why Rich Economies Are Struggling - and How to Fix Them

Excellent ... Provocative -- Aaron Bastani This essay has changed my view both of the past and the present ... It's convincing and relevant to the west today -- Carlo Rovelli * Observer on WHY EMPIRES FALL * A fascinating, informative and deeply thoughtful work -- Linda Colley * Financial Times on WHY EMPIRES FALL * [A] provocative short book ... with a novel twist * The Economist on WHY EMPIRES FALL *