The Alternatives: Approaches Towards a Life in Full
Report for Health Poverty Action (April 2018)
This research collates some of the evidence of alternative approaches to market fundamentalism, or neoliberalism, from a range of countries which have – to varying extents – successfully promoted inclusive development or indeed, alternatives to Western ideas of development itself. They include South Korea, Cuba, Mauritius, Ecuador and the Nordic countries. The report analyses the economic and other policies that have been used by these governments to improve health and reduce poverty. It shows that market fundamentalism is a political choice and that the poverty, poor health and inequality it creates are not natural phenomena. There are a range of alternative policies that have contributed to improving people’s wellbeing and health and reduced poverty. Although there is no one size fits all, there is an urgent need to challenge those promoting market fundamentalism and look to these alternatives