John Mills provides a critical survey of the way economics has developed. He argues that the main goal of economics ought to be to show how to achieve a combination of economic growth, full employment, low inflation, avoidance of extreme poverty and sustainability. That it has failed to do so is neither inevitable nor accidental. It has failed because of a combination of intellectual error and the effects of social and political pressure, which Mills claims could and should have been avoided.

JOHN MILLS is an economist who has spent all his working life running companies involved in making and selling consumer products. He thus combines a theoretical background in economics with years of practical experience in international business. He is currently responsible for the budget of a major London borough. He has written on his own, or with others, six books and many pamphlets and articles on economics and related subjects.