Description

*THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER*

An essential blueprint for a better future, from the leading economist & Labour rising star

‘Stellar: brilliant, incredibly pragmatic’ Rory Stewart
‘Refreshingly optimistic’ The Times
‘No one has done more to re-inject sanity into our national policy’ Emily Maitlis

There are few who are better placed to investigate Britain’s plight than Torsten Bell, Labour MP for Swansea West and former Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation.

In Great Britain? he offers both a clear-eyed diagnosis of the problems facing our country – a uniquely toxic combination of huge inequality and stagnant economic growth – and a bold vision for the alternative. This is a book bursting with ideas and infectious hope.

In his treasure trove of enlightening and original analysis, Torsten Bell argues that our era of chaos and cynicism needs neither utopianism nor nostalgia, but a practical patriotism to raise living standards and create a more equal country. He passionately points us towards a Britain that we can actually build – a future worth fighting for.

‘A roadmap to the new normal’ Observer
‘Pretty cool … the think tank work I raved about on The Rest Is Politics has morphed into a book’ Alastair Campbell
‘A dose of Torstenomics is the only thing that can give us hope’ Amol Rajan
‘Spiced with wit, masterful, fact-packed’ Polly Toynbee

Publisher Review

No one has done more to re-inject sanity into our national policy debates – Torsten Bell writes with optimism and clarity about the things we are getting right, as well as the stuff we should be desperate to improve. Authoritative, forensic and humane – a critical voice for our troubled times. — Emily Maitlis This is stellar: brilliant, incredibly pragmatic and serious about the country we are. It presents a wonderful opportunity for an incoming government. — Rory Stewart Spiced with wit, this is a masterful, fact-packed indictment of modern Britain after its decade of decline. But there is also hope and optimism in its practical prescription for a great social and economic restoration. — Polly Toynbee Torsten Bell has produced a brilliant analysis of the politics of pessimism in which the UK is currently mired and shows us how we can begin to arrest, then reverse, our dispiriting torpor. He is also that rare thing – an economist who can write for non-experts. The country must cherish him – and ask for more. — Peter Hennessy A dose of Torstenomics is the only thing that can give us hope — Amol Rajan A forensic, sometimes merciless, critique of what lies behind Britain’s headlong economic decline – and hopeful, feasible proposals for turning it around. One of the most impressive and readable books in a growing body of work that together is arguing for a radical change of direction. We can’t go on like this. — Will Hutton, author of * This Time No Mistakes: How to Remake Britain * An incisive, challenging and brilliantly researched agenda to deliver what Britain needs: inclusive and sustainable growth. — Gordon Brown Finally – an exciting, positive agenda to restore growth, reduce inequality and rebuild the social contract in Britain. — Minouche Shafik Torsten Bell is an extraordinarily accomplished economist and thinker who not only speaks lucidly about what ails the British economy, but also offers upbeat, relentlessly sensible ideas for making things better. — Stephanie Flanders * Head of Economics and Government, Bloomberg * This is a sobering but optimistic book. It paints a brutally honest portrait of Britain’s decline, but wisely shows us how to take action and get our future back. — Professor Dame Diane Coyle * University of Cambridge * How and why did the British economy become both stagnant and unequal? What must be done to transform its current plight for the better? This book gives thoughtful and provocative answers to both questions. Anybody interested in securing a better future for the country should read it. — Martin Wolf * Chief Economist, Financial Times * Compelling, engaging and meticulously researched. Excellent stuff. — Tatton Spiller * Simple Politics *