End Unemployment Now: How to Eliminate Joblessness, Debt, and Poverty Despite Congress

In this important book, Southern Methodist University economics professor Batra offers practicable solutions to many of the economic problems plaguing America. Most promisingly, these ideas can be implemented without involving Congress and the party loyalties that so often gum up the legislative works. Batra denounces our current system of monopoly capitalism as the main problem, positing free markets and competitive capitalism as the solution. While free markets would by necessity involve congressional input, Batra states that the President can bring about truly competitive capitalism without political hindrance. Batra’s cogent inventory of what he sees as the current obstacles to be overcome includes a “Do Nothing” Congress, high unemployment, monopoly capitalism, and stock market bubbles. He finds the cure for these economic ailments in the sectors of banking and finance, oil and gasoline, big pharma, and foreign trade. This worthy treatise concludes with a concise summation of its key proposals, including creating a bridge bank to bring down credit card interest rates, gradually raising the minimum wage in concert with inflation and national productivity levels, and preserving competition by not allowing large profitable firms to merge. Even readers new to this level of detail should recognize the wisdom of Batra’s ideas. [em](May) [/em]