Friday, March 13, 2020

A Brief Reflection on Hirschman's Shifting Involvements in the Time of COVID-19

Rereading Albert O. Hirschman's short, but extremely insightful book "Shifting Involvements: Private Interest and Public Action." (Princeton University Press, 1982).

We're now living in a moment of "shifting involvements", when "me first" is replaced by "us", where individualism and is replaced by collective action and public norms. Joe Biden will replace Donald Trump, and narrow-minded selfishness is replaced by progressive social change, much higher taxes on the rich, expanded public healthcare and a society where  inequality is replaced by inclusiveness.

Previous posts related to Albert O. Hirschman:

Are we heading towards a new 1968? (2014)

Robert Kuttner on A. O. Hirschman (2013)

First Biography of Albert O. Hirschman (2013)

The Social Impact of the Great Recession (2009)

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