Book description
Small is Beautiful
is E. F. Schumacher's stimulating and controversial study of economics
and its purpose. This remarkable book examines our modern economic
system - its use of resources and impact on how we live - questioning
whether they reflect what we truly care about. The revolutionary ideas
are as pertinent, inspirational and thought-provoking today as when they
were first published in 1973.
Before the publication of Small is
Beautiful, his bestselling reappraisal of Western economic
attitudes, Dr E. F. Schumacher was already well known as an economist,
journalist and progressive entrepreneur. He was Economic Adviser to
the National Coal Board from 1950 to 1970, and was also the originator
of the concept of Intermediate Technology for developing countries and
Founder and Chairman of the Intermediate Technology Development Group
Ltd (now Practical Action). He also served as President of the Soil
Association (Britains largest organic farming organisation, founded
thirty years ago) and as Director of the Scott-Bader Company
(pathfinders in polymer chemistry and common ownership).
Born in Germany, he first came to England in 1930 as a Rhodes
Scholar to study economics at New College, Oxford. Later, at the age
of twenty-two, he taught economics at Columbia University, New York.
As he found theorising without practical experience unsatisfying, he
then went into business, farming and journalism. He resumed the
academic life for a period at Oxford during the war, afterwards
serving as Economic Adviser to the British Control Commission in
Germany from 1946 to 1950. In later years, his advice on problems of
rural development was sought by many overseas governments.
Dr Schumacher was awarded the CBE in 1974. He died in 1977.
