The New Economics Podcast reading list

From housing to unions, the care crisis to consultancies, the latest series of the New Economics Podcast covered a huge range of topics. But one thing every episode had in common was our fantastic guests. This series we were particularly pleased to be joined by a number of authors to discuss their new books on some of the most important issues of our time. While the podcast is on a break over the summer, we’ve put together the New Economics Podcast reading list to provide you with all the inspiration you need.

If you want to learn more about the housing crisis, how it came to be and who it’s really impacting…

Tenants by Vicki Spratt is a great introduction to the fundamentals of our failed housing system. In the book, Spratt shares the stories of people across the country who are struggling to find a safe, secure place they can call home, while looking back at the policies that have led to our housing crisis. For a more personal perspective, in All the Houses I’ve Ever Lived In, Kieran Yates recalls her own experiences of dodgy landlords and mouldy rooms, and explores how communities can come together to reclaim their right to a decent home. Listen to Vicki and Kieran on the podcast here.

If you need a book to inspire you to organise your workplace…

From teachers to doctors, this has been a momentous year for striking — but with millions of workers still facing real terms pay cuts, there’s clearly a long way to go. Enter Troublemaking by Lydia Hughes and Jamie Woodcock. This book reasserts the value of strike action, encourages us all to be troublemakers in our own workplace, and offers some guiding principles for organising. Listen to Lydia and Jamie on the podcast here.

If you want to discover how shady consultancy firms are influencing our government…

The Big Con by Mariana Mazzucato and Rosie Collington explores how our government has become reliant on expensive contracts with consultancy firms, what this means for our public services, and how we can overcome our reliance on an industry that prioritises profit over the common good. Listen to Rosie on the podcast here.

If you care for a loved one or if you will in future… (spoiler alert: that’s almost all of us)

Emily Kenway’s book Who Cares offers a brand new and much needed perspective on the care crisis. Combining her personal experiences of caring for her mother with interviews with carers from across the world, Kenway highlights the challenges carers face and offers the radical solutions we need to build a more caring society. Listen to Emily on the podcast here.

If you want to find out more about the asset management firms that own our energy system, roads, and even the pipes that supply our water…

If you’re surprised to learn that asset management firms own some of our most vital public infrastructure, you’re not alone — and Brett Christopher’s Our Lives in their Portfolios will be eye-opening. In the book, we learn more about the phenomenon of asset managers, why it matters that they’re buying up the things we need to live, and how this worsens inequality. Listen to Brett on the podcast here.

If you want an alternative perspective on what it means to be anti-racist in a capitalist economy…

What is Antiracism? by Arun Kundnani challenges the prevailing liberal assumption that anti-racism is a matter for individuals and turns our attention to the economic structures that continue to perpetuate racism. Listen to Arun on the podcast here.

A huge thank you to all our wonderful guests, our excellent host Ayeisha Thomas-Smith, and of course all our listeners. We look forward to bringing to a new series soon.