Transcending the Economy On the Potential of Passionate Labor and the Wastes of the Market

"Transcending the Economy" explores the reasons why our economy fails to provide a more fulfilling way of life. Michael Perelman argues that the irrational dominance of markets imposes burdens of needless waste and lost potential, and furthermore, traditional economics is ill-equipped to approach such matters because of its focus on limits rather than potential. As an alternative, Perelman develops Charles Fourier7;s concept of passionate labor. Using examples ranging from wartime selflessness to blood donations and computer programming, he demonstrates that passionate labor has the potential to elevate both human performance and satisfaction well beyond the shallow limits imposed by markets.