Toxic debt, rising job losses, collapsing commodity prices and expanding poverty. How can we rein in these beasts unleashed by the free market economy?

People First Economics takes a long, hard look at the mess globalized capitalism is in, and shifts the focus back to where it belongs – putting the needs of people and the environment first.

People-First Economics looks at what recent events mean and could mean for us all. It's about economics—and about a lot more. It's about radical changes that are social, moral, ecological, and philosophical, too—changes that are already beginning to happen.

In a series of plain-speaking contributions, David Ransom brings together exciting and radical activists and thinkers, such as Naomi Klein, Walden Bello, and Susan George, to set the agenda for "economic democratization." Launching New Internationalist's World Changing imprint, People-First Economics covers everything from the green revolution and feminist economics to what we can learn from history and a ten-step economic detox. In doing so, it provides the opportunity to rethink what really matters in life.

David Ransom has been a co-editor of the New Internationalist since 1989. He is the author of the No-Nonsense Guide to Fair Trade.

Naomi Klein is an award-winning journalist, columnist, and author. Her latest book is the international bestseller The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism.

Walden Bello is a campaigner, academic, environmentalist, and journalist. He is senior analyst of Focus on the Global South and professor of sociology at the University of the Philippines.

Susan George is a political scientist and fellow of the Transnational Institute. She has written many books, including Another World is Possible If...