In the short essay that is the starting point for this invigorating exchange of ideas, Belgian political theorist Van Parijs (Real Freedom for All) proposes that all adult members of society be guaranteed a basic subsistence income, arguing that such a policy would promote real freedom and solve societal dilemmas like endemic poverty and unemployment. Van Parijs is convinced that once citizens feel assured of their basic survival, they will apply themselves according to their true capacities and interests, better serving society as a whole. His proposal elicits spirited responses, pro and con, from the 15 prominent economists, sociologists, political scientists, lawyers and public policy theorists (including Nobel laureate Herbert Simon and economist Edmund Phelps) gathered in this smart and accessible forum originally published in the Boston Review. Eager to provoke debate, Van Parijs accuses those who value employment under any conditions, no matter how demeaning, of suffering from "work fetishism." Although some commentators clearly want to pummel and bury the "free lunch" idea, others take it seriously and consider its possible practical outcomes. Still others persuasively use Van Parijs's thinking as a platform to advocate other social policy changes. In a mere 160 pages, this book demonstrates intellectual engagement at its best. (May 8)
Forecast: Although policy makers and social theorists are the primary audience for this book, the variety and prominence of its contributors, not to mention the foreword by Nobel laureate Robert Solow, may help it find a well-deserved readership outside the classroom.
