Value(s)

Building a Better World for All

By: Mark Carney

Narrated by: Mark Carney

From the Prime Minister of Canada, a bold and urgent argument for the foundational change that is required if we are to build an economy and society based not on market values but on human values

Our world is full of fault lines—growing inequality in income and opportunity, systemic racism; health and economic crises from a global pandemic, mistrust of experts, the existential threat of climate change, deep threats to employment in a digital economy with robotics on the rise. These fundamental problems and others like them, argues Mark Carney, stem from a common crisis in values. Drawing on the turmoil of the past two decades, Carney shows how “market economies” have evolved into “market societies” where price determines the value of everything.

Focusing on four major crises—the Global Financial Crisis, the Global Health Crisis, Climate Change and the 4th Industrial Revolution—Carney proposes responses to each. His solutions are tangible action plans for leaders, companies and countries to transform the value of the market back into the value of humanity.

Critic reviews

"A radical book that speaks out accessibly as to how we get everyone involved in solving our problems. And this is what we need: 50 Shades of People for 50 Shades of Green."—Bono, lead singer of U2

"Mark Carney’s indispensable new book asks how we can go from knowing the price of everything to understanding its true value. From the Great Financial Crisis to climate change and the coronavirus pandemic, this is the essential handbook for 21st century leaders, policymakers and everyone who wants to build a fair and sustainable world."—Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank

"Thought-provoking and readable… As societies struggle to rebuild solidarity in the post-Covid world, it will be an essential guide"—Raghuram Rajan, Former Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India

"Mark Carney draws on his unique experience of running two central banks to offer original and thought provoking solutions to the world’s biggest challenges – from Covid to climate change."—Gordon Brown, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

"A fantastic read for anyone interested in the most pressing issues facing us. The need for a world of profit with better purpose is explained in such a clear and persuasive style. I hope it gets read by many people."—Jim O'Neill, Member of House of Lords of the United Kingdom

"A roadmap to a fairer and more responsible, resilient world. Carney offers trenchant insights into our relationship with money and status, imagination and responsibility critical to our world’s future. What do we invest in – profit or human potential? This book is irradiated with the inspiring and critical conviction that money can be transformed into a tool of collective good."—Antony Gromley

Plato’s Philosopher King

It is so refreshing to hear a deep-dive analysis into the values of markets and societies and of value creation by a current world leader. For years I’ve been inspired by Mark’s advocacy for the ISSB, and his commitment to social values, especially given his position as a prominent market player. I am even more inspired today to see his strong, thoughtful stewardship of Canada and the continuation of that values-focus in his leadership. This book gives me great hope for the future, and Mark stands as a real role model to look up to on my own journey. Highly recommend!

Setting a higher bar!

Carney has the courage to continue the debate on how we can create a more just and sustainable society while fighting climate change. He clearly and confidently describes how government needs to take an active role, in partnership with the private sector, in the fourth industrial revolution, by transparently building trust and resisting the “slide into a post truth society.”

Carney, brilliantly reimagines capitalism, sees the importance of both social and environmental impact and how purpose will play a key role tackling the most weighty challenges of our time.

Business leaders will successfully drive results in the future by disrupting old business models and recognizing the importance of measuring their overall impact on society and that is a win for us all.

A complete and integrated view of the challenges and problems facing humanity and systematic solutions for addressing them.

So much to think about, to digest and to put to use in forming a life plan.

Totally misses the mark; exceedingly myopic.

There’s an old saying - “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”—and Mark’s documented ESG prose will definitely lead us all to hell—with NO way back; case in point Sri Lanka.

Shallow and Euro-centric

Carney is trapped in a dogmatic devotion to the idea that capitalism can be good. He brings up a metaphor of wine vs distilled spirits to compare what he says are good vs. bad capitalist practices. His conception of what an economy could look like is inextricable from markets.

He imagines a past where there was some kind of fairness and equality of outcome, but that never was true. The systemic violence was simply exported to foreign lands. Though Carney is able to recognize the idea that trade is value extraction more than creation, he can't seem to recognize how inextricable capitalism is from empire, conquest, and the creation of the modern idea of "race" as justification for exploitation.

Skip this book. Get Debt: the First 5000 years instead.