Book Launch: The FIRE Economy by Jane Kelsey

Wednesday, 15 July 2015, 2:28 pm
Article: Francis Cook

Professor Jane Kelsey held a discussion with Carol Hirschfeld on her new book The FIRE Economy: New Zealand's Reckoning. Last night marked to official launch of the work, published by Bridget Williams Books. The FIRE Economy is an investigation into the “neoliberal” project as it stands in 2015.

Auckland University Law Professor Kelsey said the neoliberal economic model of the 1980s presents a dangerous faux-stability which citizens have been slowly coerced into accepting and, moreover, protecting. Creative ideas for economic change are described as dangerous or “economic voodoo”. “We are sleepwalking,” she said. “We should be worried. Even if we don’t have a crisis, we have a pretty sick economy.”

Hirschfeld and Kelsey discussed the privatisation of power, brought on by the Government’s reliance on easy access to capital. The private sector, said Kelsey, now performs a public function.

Kelsey said New Zealand, as a small country, can afford to be more creative in economic reform. The TPPA will “handcuff” our system into the unsustainable neoliberal model.

Kelsey is a prominent critic of globalisation and neo-liberalism. She specialises socio-legal studies, law and policy and international economic regulation.

More images below.

Marama Fox was among the attendees

Prof. Kelsey signing copies of her book

ENDS

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Francis Cook

Reporter

Francis studied History, gaining a first class honours in 2014. He is interested in politics, music and popular culture. His thesis looked at nuclear themes in Japanese film history.

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