The author, is, unusually for a supporter of land value taxation and free trade, a graduate in economics, having gained a first class honours degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the University of Oxford. This puts him in the advantageous position of being able to apply a critique of mainstream economics in its own terms, something which most of us are unable to do.

For those who have studied in one of the few institutions which has continued to teach economics in the classical tradition, this volume is a useful compendium, relating classical theory to the main issues which are currently a matter of public concern, and which politicians are chronically unable to address with effective policies. Counter-productive policies are commonly imposed and then surprise is expressed when they do not work. Armed with a knowledge of basic classical principles such as Ricardo’s Law of Rent, failure could have been predicted. If you are familiar with the supporting body of theory, this volume is therefore an invaluable resource and will keep the readers’ thinking up-to-date and relevant.