Are We Rich Yet?: The Rise of Mass Investment Culture in Contemporary Britain

Are We Rich Yet? is a book that explores the history of how finance remade everyday life in Thatcher's Britain, focusing on the shift from institutionalized to consumer-oriented mass investment culture. It explains how the financial became a central part of British society, economically, politically, socially, and culturally, and how the interactions between structural transformation and the rhythms of everyday life shaped the rise of neoliberalism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 14 June 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Are We Rich Yet? is a captivating book that delves into the intricate history of how finance reshaped everyday life in Thatcher's Britain. It explores the profound transformation that occurred during the 1980s and 1990s, when financial markets seamlessly integrated into the fabric of British society. This shift marked a significant milestone, as investing moved beyond the exclusive domain of the City of London and became accessible to individuals on the nation's high streets. The Conservative Party hailed this development as evidence of the democratization of capital ownership, asserting that it was opening up opportunities for ordinary people to participate in the financial world.

However, the reality was somewhat different. In practice, investing in the late-twentieth century Britain became increasingly institutionalized, with many individuals tying their fortunes to the credit, insurance, pension, and mortgage industries. This strategy aimed to maintain independence from state-run support systems and ensure a stable financial future.

The book by historian Amy Edwards is a valuable contribution to our understanding of the financialization of British society. It shifts our attention away from the corridors of Whitehall and onto a diverse range of characters who played pivotal roles in shaping the financial landscape. These individuals include brokers, bankers, traders, newspaper editors, goods manufacturers, marketing departments, production companies, and countless ordinary men and women. Through their interactions and experiences, they collectively influenced the political and economic reforms that took place in Britain.

Are We Rich Yet? delves into the complex interplay between structural transformation and the rhythms of everyday life. It challenges the notion that the rise of neoliberalism can be solely attributed to a meticulously planned right-wing political revolution. Instead, the book offers a nuanced perspective that recognizes the multifaceted factors that contributed to the emergence of neoliberalism. It explores the ways in which financial markets.

Weight: 582g
Dimension: 148 x 217 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520385467