What is Money? And How to Make it Work Better for Everyone
Will be published approx. on 1. September 2026
Book
Hardback
213 pages
978-1-0364-7686-1 (ISBN)
Description
We use money every day, but what exactly is it? You're not alone if you can't answer that question: nor can many politicians, bankers and even economists. The topic isn't taught in schools, and most economics courses hardly mention it. Fortunately, several leading researchers have recently made great progress on the subject, but their writings can be dense and difficult to follow. This book sets out what we now know about money in clear, straightforward, enjoyable terms. It explains how money comes into and out of existence, the key role of central banks, how government budgets work (or not!) and how they could work better. It also covers foreign exchange, cryptocurrencies, tax, and key movements in history that have made money what it is today. It's especially written for economics students, but in language most people can understand and enjoy. Bankers, politicians, investors and economists should also find it engaging.
Reviews / Votes
'Essential reading on a topic that could not be more important. [The author] makes the principles of money accessible, clear and engaging through practical examples and thought-provoking explanations. He not only shows what money is, but how it underpins power and structures in society. Perfect also for younger readers curious about how money works.'Minna Sunikka-Blank, Professor of Architecture and Environmental Policy, University of Cambridge, UK'This book is fascinating, informative, and critical, while remaining remarkably easy to read despite the complexity of the topics. It has a great deal to offer for a wide variety of readers, from scholars across disciplines, to policy practitioners and citizens.'Jared Sonnicksen, Professor of Political Systems, RWTH (Rheinisch-Westfaelische Technische Hochschule) Aachen University, GermanyMore details
Edition
Unabridged edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Newcastle upon Tyne
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
Unabridged edition
Product notice
With dust jacket
Dimensions
Height: 212 mm
Width: 148 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-0364-7686-1 (9781036476861)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Ray Galvin works with the School of Business and Economics at Rheinisch-Westfaelische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen University, Germany, and the Institute for Sustainability Leadership at Cambridge University, UK. In his 13-year academic career, which he started late in life, he has published over 80 peer-reviewed papers, including the widely cited "The Green New Deal in the United States" and "Yes there is enough money to decarbonize the economies of high-income countries justly and sustainably." He has published 3 academic books, including "Economic Inequality in Energy Consumption", and is in the top 0.1% of researchers worldwide in Stanford University's global ratings. He has a multi-disciplinary background, with degrees in engineering, theology, social psychology and climate science, and did his doctoral dissertation on the economics of the energy transition. Through his ongoing research in this field he developed a keen interest in issues of money creation that are mostly absent from university teaching and are little known among the general public.