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Reimagining Capitalism

Shortlisted for the FT & McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award 2020

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Reimagining Capitalism

By: Rebecca Henderson
Narrated by: Lucinda Clare
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Free market capitalism is one of humanity's greatest inventions, and the greatest source of prosperity the world has ever seen. But it's also on the verge of destroying the planet and destabilizing society in its single-minded pursuit of maximizing shareholder value.

Rebecca Henderson, McArthur University Professor at Harvard University, argues for a new framework; one that can simultaneously make a positive societal impact by confronting the realities of the environment and the need to address social and economic inequality, while also delivering sustained financial performance to ensure economic growth that brings prosperity and wellbeing to society as a whole.

Drawing on the lessons of companies from around the world who are acting on this responsibility - who are not only surviving but are thriving, becoming leaders in their industries and beginning to drive the wheels of change - Professor Henderson proves that this is not only a moral imperative for business but also the only way to remain competitive in our changing world.

© Rebecca Henderson 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

 Business Development Business Development & Entrepreneurship Business Ethics Economics Engineering Entrepreneurship Environmental Economics Workplace & Organisational Behavior Business Capitalism Taxation Economic disparity Socialism Management Economic Inequality

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Critic reviews

This powerful and readable book is a clarion call for reimagining and remaking capitalism. The market economy, which used to generate rapid productivity growth and shared prosperity, has done much less of that over the last four decades. The shifting balance of power in favor of large companies and lobbies, the gutting of basic regulations, the increasing ability of corporations and the very rich to get their way in every domain of life, and the unwillingness of the government to step up to protect its weakest citizens are likely responsible for low productivity growth and ballooning inequality in the US economy. Rebecca Henderson argues that the market system can be reformed and this can be done without unduly harming corporations. We can have a more moral and more innovative capitalism. There is hope!
'If you are unsatisfied with today's economic arguments-which too often seem to present an unappealing choice between unbridled markets and old-school collectivism-you need to read Rebecca Henderson's Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire. Henderson offers a system that rewards initiative and respects the power of free enterprise, but that also recognizes that we have a higher purpose in life than pure profit maximization. This is a book for the realist with a heart'
Rebecca Henderson is masterful in both elegant articulation of one of society's great challenges and clarity of vision in laying out a roadmap for practical and essential change. Reimagining Capitalism is a great read, full of insights, and a refreshing perspective that is new, practical, and ground-breaking, offering clear steps for transitioning to a capitalism that is both profitable as well as just and sustainable
Rebecca Henderson is a provocative thinker on the purpose of business in society. In her new book, she advances the dialogue about the role of business in addressing the big social and environmental challenges of our time. Hers is an important voice in an essential conversation
In a world on fire, status quo is not a great option. Rebecca Henderson rightfully argues for a refoundation of business and capitalism and offers thought-provoking ideas on what needs to be done to address some of the world's greatest challenges
A must-read for every person with a stake in our economic system since change or die is the inescapable reality confronting capitalism. The question is how. Rebecca Henderson provides investors and corporate executives with the thought leadership and compelling examples foundational for understanding how to deliver sustainable and inclusive economic growth
'Capitalism as we know it has gotten us this far, but to take the next steps forward as a society and species we need new ways of seeing and acting on our world. That's exactly what Rebecca Henderson's book helps us do. This is a smart, timely, and much-needed reimagining of what capitalism can be'
All stars
Most relevant
From the financial system to leadership, Rebecca Henderson takes a broad and inspiring view of what needs to change and what could, if we just had the commitment. A must read for any business listener.

A must read for any business leader.

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The premise of this book by economist professor and former management consultant specialising in corporate re-engineering Rebecca Henderson is that by re-imagining capitalism business can save the world. This is indeed a bold claim, particularly when you consider that corporate entities exist in a competitive world where their stated goal of management is to maximise shareholder value, meaning that profits come before anything else.
There are some strong examples cited in this book as to when companies have make changes to improve the world and where goals have been re-set to achieve public benefit rather than shareholder value such as the reductions in CFC use that effectively preserved the Antarctica ozone layer. It is clear that re imagining capitalism needs re imagining of accounting standards too, however ESG reporting (Environmental, Social, and Governance) which measures a company's social impact, is currently work in progress with only Japan effectively implementing this properly. Family companies are inherently more purpose driven than capital markets or private equity and it is this concept of having a wider purpose that is central to the ideas of this book. It is very hard for large multinational business to change their ways, for example when major consumer goods companies collaborated to reduce the use of palm oil but failed and this resulted in further deforestation of the Indonesian rain forecasts.
Noble as the aims of this book are, there is still a long way to go, particularly when USA the world's largest economy is one of the three countries in the world not to sign up to the Paris Climate Change Agreement (the other two being Nicaragua and Syria).
It is an interesting analogy that when film-makers decide to "re-imagine" a classic, this usually means bringing it up to date to re-shoot in a way that is more palatable for modern audiences with little change to the original concept. I suspect that if we really are going to "save the world", something more radical that the re-imagining of capitalism as portrayed in this book is required.

Purpose driven firms can change the world - a bit

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Every business person and entrepreneur should read this book. It is well researched and gives clear insight into how business should respond in the current climate. As a Business School lecturer it is now top of my reading list.

Excellent timely book

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I really enjoyed this book. I’m not sure what I was expecting. Possibly more of a how to guide, which it still offered. But what I really got was hope. Hope that it’s still possible. Hope that we’ll find a way. And even to a certain extent, hope in humanity…

Hope where I thought there was none

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The author whilst her heart is clearly in the right place, has produced a preachy woke environmentally focused dissertation. I would have liked more detail on the companies who changed themselves rather than supporting Greta.
The book is TOTALLY focused on environmentalism with some focus on labour rights but I would have wanted more on the other aspects of governance, bribes, reporting etc.

Also the book is pre-covid and pre Russia - Ukraine conflict which have had major impacts on energy and working together. Therefore this is much less relevant than it once was. An appendix / epilogue would be useful

Woke - pre covid & ESG boom

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