Further reading
Here is a partial list of organisations, websites and books that can serve as a starting point for further investigations into new economic ideas.
A number of institutions do research and teaching in the applications of complexity theory to economics. See for example:
For general information on graduate programs, see: Online Graduate Programs
A good introduction to complexity economics is: Beinhocker, Eric D. (2006), Origin of Wealth: Evolution, Complexity, and the Radical Remaking of Economics (Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press).
For a guide to network theory, see: Barabási, Albert-László (2003), Linked: How Everything is Connected to Everything Else and What it Means for Business, Science, and Everyday Life (Cambridge, MA: Plume).
Groups involved in applications of nonlinear dynamics and systems theory to business and economics include:
Society for Nonlinear Dynamics and Econometrics
See also: Sterman, John D. (2002), All Models are Wrong: Reflections on Becoming a Systems Scientist, System Dynamics Review 18: 501-531.
Useful and entertaining books on risk and uncertainty in financial markets include:
Mandelbrot, Benoît and Hudson, Richard L. (2004), The Misbehavior of Markets: A Fractal View of Financial Turbulence (New York: Basic Books).
Makridakis, Spyros, Hogarth, Robin, and Gaba, Anil (2009), Dance with Chance: Making Luck Work for You (Oxford: Oneworld).
Taleb, Nassim Nicholas (2007), The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable (New York: Random House).
The psychology of money and decision-making:
Ariely, Dan (2009), Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions (London: HarperCollins).
Thaler, Richard H. and Sunstein, Cass R. (2008), Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness (Yale University Press). See nudges.org
Frey, Bruno S. and Stutzer, Alois (2002), Happiness and Economics: How the economy and institutions affect human well-being (Princeton University Press).
To understand the psychology of traders, a fictional approach might help: Ishikawa, Tetsuya (2009), How I Caused the Credit Crunch (London: Icon).
For information on heterodox economics:
Heterodox Economics Newsletter
For a critique of neoclassical theory: Keen, Steve (2001), Debunking Economics: The Naked Emperor of the Social Sciences (Sydney: Pluto Press). Now also available as an e-book. See: www.debunkingeconomics.com
For a critique of neoclassical practice: Klein, Naomi (2008), The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism (London: Penguin).
Ideas on reducing inequality: Wilkinson, Richard and Pickett, Kate (2009), The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger (London: Bloomsbury). See also: www.equalitytrust.org.uk
For ecological economics, visit the International Society for Ecological Economics, which also has a list of regional societies.
One of the founders of the field was Herman Daly, who has authored or co-authored a number of works, including a recent textbook: Daly, Herman E. and Farley, Joshua (2010), Ecological Economics, Second Edition: Principles and Applications (Washington, DC: Island Press).
Some organisations that are working to reshape economics and the economy:
Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy (US)
Redefining Progress, US think tank that introduced the Genuine Progress Indicator
Pembina Institute, Canadian think tank promoting sustainable energy solutions
Adbusters magazine's campaign against neoclassical economics
Ethical Markets Media, a media company founded by Hazel Henderson, see also www.hazelhenderson.com
Oxford seems to be evolving into a hub for groups which promote a multi-disciplinary, systems approach to thinking about the economy and the future:
Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment
James Martin 21st Century School