The Care Economy

Tim Jackson’s The Care Economy examines how care—despite being essential for human life and wellbeing—is systematically undervalued in modern economic systems. The book argues that care work is vital but often underpaid and overlooked because economies prioritize productivity and profit over health and human needs. Through history, economics, philosophy, and gender analysis, Jackson explores how this imbalance developed and why it persists. He ultimately proposes rethinking society’s priorities by placing care and health at the center of economic design, calling for a more humane and sustainable model of prosperity.