Robert B. Reich’s fascinating book Supercapitalism, pulls together a number of themes into a coherent, and depressing, whole. He argues that the marketplace is far more competitive than it once was, as a result of which corporations constantly try to offer the best product they can at the lowest possible price–to attract consumers–and to pay the highest possible return on investments–to attract investors. Reich gives numerous examples of this behavior and traces its historical development. He also offers policy prescriptions for dealing with it. It’s a terrific book, and one that sheds considerable light on many of the problems with the marketplace and society today. And, at the end of the day, it raises an important question: do voters want changes that will cause consumers to pay more and investors to accept less in pursuit of other goals or would we rather have things as they are? Pick up a copy today.