Posted on 04/03/2002 6:00:50 AM PST by flamefront
Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy, premieres on PBS April 3, 10, and 17, 2002 at 9:00 PM ( check local listings ). Based on the book by Pulitzer Prize winner Daniel Yergin and Joseph Stanislaw, this six-hour limited series traces the evolution of the modern global economy through the nine tumultuous decades since World War I.
Will governmental intervention be the only hope for stable future economic activity (GAG) or will Reaganomics get its due?
Yawn...I think I've got to change the air in my tires, give the dogs a bath, fill out my income tax and read FreeRepublic.
It is more a matter of the degree of intervention. Sort of akin to the degree of government intervention in your personal daily life nowadays.
If there ever was such a thing as a totally free market place I think it would cause political unrest on a grand scale.
How to strike that "perfect" balance. That is the question.
OK, but if your tires go flat don't blame me:-)
Highly Recommended!, March 13, 2001
Reviewer: Rolf Dobelli, getAbstract from Switzerland
The second half of the 20th century was marked by the ebb and flow of government influence over national and international economies. Daniel Yergin and Joseph Stanislaw characterize the balance between government and private marketplace clout as a battle for the commanding heights of the economy. They trace this fight back to the years after World War II, where they discover that capitalism had been widely discredited and governments were basking in the glow of wartime victory. With descriptions of the catalytic people and events that moved markets and policy, Yergin and Stanislaw have turned an essentially academic topic into a readable book, which is as much about economics as it is about history. As engaging as the stories are, don't assume you're in for a light read. Many business books today have plenty of sizzle, but not much steak. We at getAbstract recommend that you sink your teeth into this big, juicy T-bone of a book, a rare treat for intellectual readers searching for economic adventure and substantive history.
This is not another "The Prize"., January 13, 2000
Reviewer: Stephen Bland from Alabama
I was disappointed by this book, but then my expectations were very high after reading Yergin's earlier work on the history of the oil industry (5 stars!). Early on, the authors present us with a historical dilemna: the post World War II nations are distrustful of market economies and experiencing prosperity under centralized, planned economies. Yet market economies take over in a matter of decades. The authors use the strategy of a broad, global view to explain why and how -- with most of the emphasis on how. As a result, the reading is quite repetetive. The thesis is clear: market economies work best. There is almost no discussion on the limitations of market economies -- or of their social consequences. Worse, for those like myself with no background in economics, the implications of the emerging global free-market economy is virtually untouched. My advice... read "The Prize".
somewhat overrated, but very enjoyable, April 26, 2000
Reviewer: cp from London
This book should have gotten five stars without a doubt. It's very readable; the author doesn't fall into the temptation of inventing new "-isms" as so many academics do. The content is extremely accurate and very well documented, with viewpoints from major historical players. Why not five stars? First, it did get a little repetitive and by the time I got to South America, the chapter seemed very predictable (let me guess, they cut spending and taxes and privatised, restricted monetary supply and killed off the evil hyperinflation dragon and everybody lived employed ever after). Second, instead of constantly giving concrete examples, the author could have examined the theoretical debates that pit free-marketeers and Keynesians against one another. The downside of free markets, both globally and domestically is not examined, despite the fact that the argumentative ammunition to bring down anti-market theories is abundant. Finally, I thought Daniel Yergin generalised a little too often when examining economic remedies. The dismal science is known as such because general assumptions in the real economic world are virtually impossible.
Knowing PBS, I bet on the former being the 'message'.
Did anyone catch the 'dictator' hit piece PBS just ran about the 'overthrow' of Milosevic. Seems like there's a rush in the 'propaganda' department to 'educate' sheep. Since Milosevic's success in defending himself, 'they' are taking no chances.
PBS is rarely worth watching, and rarely balanced - But when it is, it is very well done.
Ethics in America comes to mind, as does several episodes of the usually leftist Frontline.
Now you're just being judgemental and narrowminded.
No bet.
I think it made a very clear point that in 1979 the world was dominated by governments which sought to control national economies. And the economic times were not good. Reagan and Thatcher came in, cut taxes, deregulated industries and started economic booms (after some necessary tough times). Once they had shown the way, countries around the world starting allowing market forces to do their thing and we've had good times ever since.
Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. PBS just showed the public why government intervention always hurts the economy.
This first episode was outstanding. Two hours relentlessly hammering home the rationality, morality, beneficence and superiority of conservative economic theory and the principles of individual and market freedom and limited government that go with it.
The story of the development, and then the implementation, and then the success, of the philosophy that would challenge free-world socialism -- command economies with wage and price controls and "stimulatory" government spending, stultifying regulatory regimes and all the rest -- was told with passion, power and lucidity. The audience was pounded, especially during the second hour, with clips, interviews and quotes from a series of influential conservatives, culminating with Ronald Reagan and Maggie Thatcher. All were treated almost heroically.
I repeat, THIS WAS ON PBS!!!
Carter, FDR, and Keynesian economics thoroughly discredited in a lively show with lots of great historical film footage. Nixon was trashed, too, but he deserved it.
I LOVED IT!
Hope it never comes ;-)
World shrinks, chasm grows- PBS Show "Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy"
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