Book review: why we can’t afford the Rich by Andrew Sayer

Against the backdrop of rising economic inequality, Why We Can’t Afford the Rich tackles the myth that the rich are vital wealth creators. Instead, Andrew Sayer outlines the negative societal and environmental impact of unsustainable growth and extreme concentrations of wealth. Winner of the 2015 British Academy Peter Townsend Prize, this is a readable and persuasive book, even if some of its recommendations will be familiar to readers of other recent, popular analyses of inequality, austerity and the financial crisis, writes Dan McArthur.