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The Representation of Economics in Cinema

Scarcity, Greed and Utopia

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Analyses the intimate relationship between economics and cinema through brief cultural history films
  • Considers topics as diverse as unions, immigration, globalization, working women, and automation
  • Contrasts how economists make sense of the economy with how movies do so

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Table of contents (10 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
  2. Introduction: Mr. Smith Goes to the Movies

    • Santiago Sanchez-Pages
    Pages 1-8
  3. Scarcity, Conflicts, and Dystopia

    • Santiago Sanchez-Pages
    Pages 9-28
  4. Evil Is The Root Of All Money

    • Santiago Sanchez-Pages
    Pages 29-47
  5. Brokers, Bankers, and Boiler Rooms

    • Santiago Sanchez-Pages
    Pages 49-69
  6. Evil, Inc.

    • Santiago Sanchez-Pages
    Pages 71-96
  7. Disruptors

    • Santiago Sanchez-Pages
    Pages 97-119
  8. The Path of Workers

    • Santiago Sanchez-Pages
    Pages 121-151
  9. Women at Work

    • Santiago Sanchez-Pages
    Pages 153-180
  10. Crises

    • Santiago Sanchez-Pages
    Pages 181-199
  11. Conclusion: Post-Scarcity and Utopia

    • Santiago Sanchez-Pages
    Pages 201-213
  12. Back Matter

    Pages 215-220

About this book

Cinema articulates the economic anxieties of each generation of filmmakers and audiences. It has an influence on people’s views on various economic issues and many orders of magnitude larger than that of economics as a discipline. This book offers a sweeping study of the representation of economics in cinema across a wide range of areas and genres, from the conflicts over resources in the lawless Old West to the post-scarcity societies of science fiction futures. This book studies how films have portrayed trade unions, scarcity, money, businesses, innovators, migrant workers, working women, globalization, the stock market, and the automation of work. It aims to be useful to those who are interested in cinema with economic themes and to those who want to learn about economics through cinema.


Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Political Economy, King's College London, London, UK

    Santiago Sanchez-Pages

About the author

Santiago Sanchez-Pages is associate professor in economics at King’s College London, UK. His academic research focuses on political economy, economic theory, and experimental economics. His articles have been published in leading international journals. He also writes on film and popular culture and has published several short stories.


Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: The Representation of Economics in Cinema

  • Book Subtitle: Scarcity, Greed and Utopia

  • Authors: Santiago Sanchez-Pages

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80181-6

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: Economics and Finance, Economics and Finance (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-80180-9Published: 14 September 2021

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-80183-0Published: 15 September 2022

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-80181-6Published: 13 September 2021

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIII, 220

  • Number of Illustrations: 1 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Cultural Economics, Political Economy/Economic Systems, Aesthetics

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access