From the acclaimed co-author of Why Empires Fall, a bold vision for how to put Western economies back on a sustainable footing.

Every leader comes to power promising growth: think back to the campaigns of Boris, Truss, Sunak, Starmer, Trump. Yet real-term income hasn't improved in the UK since 2008. Across the West, growth has stagnated for well over a decade, leading to cost of living crises, political instability and rising social tensions.

Is real economic growth still possible? And with the climate emergency accelerating beyond repair, should we still be pushing for it?

In Icarus Economics, acclaimed economist John Rapley argues that the problem of growth is inherently tied up with the climate crisis. We often assume that poor countries will bear the brunt of climate change, pandemics, and other exogenous shocks, but this book argues the opposite: western societies have more wealth and capital to lose and are less inherently resilient. In this book, he shows us how rich countries can grow their own economies by helping poor countries to decarbonise - and in the process, mitigate the effects of climate change.

Details

ISBN13: 9781805465317
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 272
Edition: Main
Publication Date: 26 May 2026
Publisher: Atlantic Books
Publication City, Country: London, United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 21.6(H)x13.8(L)
Weight (gm):

Author Biography

John Rapley is a Senior Fellow at the Johannesburg Institute of Advanced Studies. His books include Twilight of the Money Gods and Why Empires Fall (co-authored with Peter Heather).

Reviews

'Provocative ... An entertaining, sweeping read' * Financial Times *
'Fascinating' -- Rod Liddle, Times Radio
Excellent ... Provocative -- Aaron Bastani
This essay has changed my view both of the past and the present ... It's convincing and relevant to the west today -- Carlo Rovelli * Observer on WHY EMPIRES FALL *
A fascinating, informative and deeply thoughtful work -- Linda Colley * Financial Times on WHY EMPIRES FALL *
[A] provocative short book ... with a novel twist * The Economist on WHY EMPIRES FALL *