Today's economic reality is that of a single global economy that has long ceased to comprise separate national areas. A global approach to economic life is therefore needed and with it a dynamic analysis of the economic process—something that can only happen once we find a path that takes us beyond the confines of nationalistic thinking.
Not generally known for his contribution to economics, Steiner shows a remarkable knowledge of economic history and a firm grasp of day-to-day problems—from the price of gold to the structure of state capitalism. Though they took place in 1922, the lectures presented here have lost nothing of their relevance; the problems facing humanity at the end of World War I have never been properly addressed and are set to return.
For those who want to penetrate the gloss of market economics and the usual obfuscation by modern economists, this is a mine of valuable insights, prefaced by an essay that puts Steiner's contribution to economics in context.
The lectures in this volume (CW 340) were originally published in English as World Economy.
Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925) was born in Kraljevic, Austria, where he grew up the son of a railroad station chief. As a young man, he lived in Weimar and Berlin, where he became a respected and well-published scientific, literary, and philosophical scholar, known especially for his work with Goethe’s scientific writings. At the beginning of the twentieth century, he began to develop his earlier philosophical principles into an approach to systematic research into psychological and spiritual phenomena. Formally beginning his spiritual teaching career under the auspices of the Theosophical Society, Steiner came to use the term Anthroposophy (and spiritual science) for his philosophy, spiritual research, and its results. The influence of Steiner’s multifaceted genius has led to innovative and holistic approaches in medicine and therapies, philosophy, religious renewal, Waldorf education, education for special needs (including the Camphill Village movement), threefold economics, biodynamic agriculture, Goethean science, architecture, and the arts of drama, speech, and eurythmy. In 1924, Rudolf Steiner founded the General Anthroposophical Society, which today has branches throughout the world. He died in Dornach, Switzerland. See all titles by this author
Christopher Houghton Budd was born in England. He left school at 16, and then spent his youth traveling, working on private yachts, and learning the film business in California. He spent 1968 in Berkeley, where he developed a strong interest in Marxist ideas, but became convinced that Marx had failed to interpret his vision accurately. Prior to this time he had also met the work of Rudolf Steiner, whose contributions to sociology and economics have been of special interest to him ever since. For two decades, Dr. Houghton Budd initiated or participated in a variety of small and mostly “green” businesses in such fields as farming, housing, food distribution, retailing, and investment. He served for seven years as a local councilor (mostly as chair) and four as a state school governor. He works as a freelance writer, publisher, and consultant and leads workshops around the world. His particular focus is on the development of associative economics, an approach to economics that combines financial discipline with active social responsibility on the part of human beings. Christopher Houghton Budd edits and publishes a bimonthly journal for associative economics and is a founding member of the Associative Economics Network. He holds a degree in economic history from the University of Sussex, where he focused on the Bank of England, and a Ph.D. in banking from Cass Business School, London, where his thesis dealt with the changing relationship between central banking and the financial markets. He is married with one child and has a strong interest in gardening and architecture. Visit the Centre for Associative Economics website. See all titles by this author
Owen Barfield (1898–1997), the British philosopher and critic, has been called the “First and Last Inkling,” because of his influence and enduring role in the group known as the Oxford Inklings. The Inklings included C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams. It was Barfield who first advanced the ideas about language, myth, and belief that became identified with the thinking and art of the Inklings. He is the author of numerous books, including Poetic Diction: A Study in Meaning; Romanticism Comes of Age; Unancestoral Voice; History in English Words; and Worlds Apart: A Dialogue of the 1960s. His history of the evolution of human consciousness, Saving the Appearances: A Study in Idolatry, achieved a place in the list of the “100 Best Spiritual Books of the Century.” See all titles by this author
Christopher Houghton Budd was born in England. He left school at 16, and then spent his youth traveling, working on private yachts, and learning the film business in California. He spent 1968 in Berkeley, where he developed a strong interest in Marxist ideas, but became convinced that Marx had failed to interpret his vision accurately. Prior to this time he had also met the work of Rudolf Steiner, whose contributions to sociology and economics have been of special interest to him ever since. For two decades, Dr. Houghton Budd initiated or participated in a variety of small and mostly “green” businesses in such fields as farming, housing, food distribution, retailing, and investment. He served for seven years as a local councilor (mostly as chair) and four as a state school governor. He works as a freelance writer, publisher, and consultant and leads workshops around the world. His particular focus is on the development of associative economics, an approach to economics that combines financial discipline with active social responsibility on the part of human beings. Christopher Houghton Budd edits and publishes a bimonthly journal for associative economics and is a founding member of the Associative Economics Network. He holds a degree in economic history from the University of Sussex, where he focused on the Bank of England, and a Ph.D. in banking from Cass Business School, London, where his thesis dealt with the changing relationship between central banking and the financial markets. He is married with one child and has a strong interest in gardening and architecture. Visit the 
Owen Barfield (1898–1997), the British philosopher and critic, has been called the “First and Last Inkling,” because of his influence and enduring role in the group known as the Oxford Inklings. The Inklings included C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams. It was Barfield who first advanced the ideas about language, myth, and belief that became identified with the thinking and art of the Inklings. He is the author of numerous books, including Poetic Diction: A Study in Meaning; Romanticism Comes of Age; Unancestoral Voice; History in English Words; and Worlds Apart: A Dialogue of the 1960s. His history of the evolution of human consciousness, Saving the Appearances: A Study in Idolatry, achieved a place in the list of the “100 Best Spiritual Books of the Century.”