Neoliberalism under debate

Abstract

The neoliberal economic and political practice is still worldwide present. But deregulation is no longer very popular. New rules are imposed. Easy consumer credit and excessive issues of financial liabilities are recognized as directly responsible for the crisis. Neoliberal policies ultimately failed to encourage investment, to strengthen productivity and to promote diversification. They did not induce higher economic growth and increased financial stability. They did not succeed in reducing poverty, exploitation and inequalities, in relieving public debt, in lowering the volatility of international capital flows and in sustaining the environment. Almost unbelievably, however, they were able to survive these misadventures. They simply changed their name, from conservatives to libertarians, which sounds much better, and carried on. During the global crisis, merchant banks, insurance companies and big corporations with financial difficulties asked everywhere for state support. And they got it. Bailouts became the norm, bankruptcies were reduced to sporadic exceptions.