Neoliberalism and Everyday Life

Perhaps the most baffling and insufficiently answered questions about the neoliberal policies that fuelled the economic crash in the fall of 2008 are: why were these policies considered the only option? And why, despite the crash, does neoliberalism continue to dominate the world economy? "Neoliberalism and Everyday Life" provides answers. Illuminating the ways in which neoliberal policies - such as the deregulation of economies and the transfer of governmental responsibilities to the private sector - have been implemented on a global scale, the contributors show how neoliberalism has seeped into our social and political fabric and affected our daily lives. Drawing attention to the most visible elements of neoliberalism in business, government, and personal life, these essays reveal the ways in which policies designed to ensure market expansion also inevitably expand social inequalities of gender, race, class, and ability. Using a variety of methods, contributors discuss a range of topics, including globalization, privatization, health care, and the welfare state. An intelligent and informative collection that explains and challenges neoliberal policies, "Neoliberalism and Everyday Life" is an important assessment of a political system that makes profit easier and people's lives more difficult.