The third edition of Political Economy: The Contest of Economic Ideas is a fully updated overview of the political economy and its connection with social concerns. This book investigates the main traditions of economic ideas and provides a 'big picture' overview of the analytical tools and value judgements associated with competing schools of economic thought. Political Economy features an engaging writing style which makes the complexities of contesting economic ideas - such as classical political economy and Marxist economics, neoclassical economies and neo-liberalism - clear and accessible. This is essential reading for those students and teachers interested in broadening their understanding of conventional political economics, and considering the coherent and constructive alternatives. New to this Edition: New chapter on the economics of happiness New sections on: - The global financial crisis - The economic implications of climate change - 'Putting a price on carbon' - 'Green jobs' - Financialisation - 'Affluenza' - Behavioural economics New images of key economists who have shaped the development of economic theory. This title is also available as an eBook through VitalSource. If you have any questions about this format, please don't hesitate to contact us.Part I: Current Economic Processes and Problems1. What is Political Economy?2. The Personal is Political Economic3. Structural Economic Changes4. Political Economic ChallengesPart II: Economic Systems and Economic Theories5. Economic Systems6. Capitalism7. Economic TheoriesPart III: Back to Basics: Classical Political Economy8. Capitalism Emerging9. Private Vices, Public Virtues10. Value, Distribution, Growth11. Land and Economic SurplusPart IV: The Critique of Capitalism: Marxist Economics12. Contesting Capitalism13. The Mode of Production14. Labour, Value, Exploitation15. Capital Accumulation16. Reproduction, Growth, Change17. Economic CrisesPart V: The Ideology of the Market: Neoclassical Economics18. Free-market Economics19. Consumers20. Firms21. Market Structures22. Distribution23. Economic Welfare and Neo-LiberalismPart VI: Evolution and Reform: Institutional Economics24. Economy and Society25. A Dissident Tradition in Economics26. Economic Power27. Economic and Social Reform28. Corporate GlobalisationPart VII: Stabilising the Economy: Keynesian Economics29. The Disillusioned Defence of Capitalism30. Constructing a Keynesian Model31. Instability in a Monetary Economy32. Macroeconomic Policy33. The Keynesian LegacyPart VIII: Contemporary Concerns: Modern Political Economy34. A Radical Reconstruction35. Economy and Environment36. Technology, Industry, Work37. Class, Gender, Ethnicity38. The Political Economy of the StatePart IX: Whither Political Economy? Conflict and Progress39. Why Do Economists Disagree?40. A Level Playing Field for Economic Ideas?41. W(h)ither Capitalism?42. A Happy Ending?