Decolonizing Economics: Book Launch

Decolonizing Economics: An Introduction

by Devika Dutt, Carolina Alves, Surbhi Kesar, Ingrid Harvold Kvangraven

Decolonization has long been debated across the social sciences, but the economics discipline has so far avoided such critical engagement. This book provides a much-needed intervention. Dutt, Alves, Kesar, and Kvangraven uncover the deeply Eurocentric foundations that shape how economists study the world today. These have rendered the discipline ill-equipped to tackle critical questions, such as structural racism, uneven development, the climate crisis, labour relations, and how structural power shapes economic outcomes. Decolonizing economics entails challenging the norms of neutrality and objectivity that economists claim to speak from, while fostering alternative ways of understanding the economy that take seriously structural power relations and contemporary processes of economic development. Readers will come to understand the political stakes of decolonization and the wide range of scholarship that already exists that can help us grasp economics from non-Eurocentric perspectives. Through such scholarship, we can gain an enriched understanding of capitalism and its relationship to exploitation, colonialism, and racialization.

You can purchase the book or e-book at the Polity Press website.

Table of contents

About the authors

Devika Dutt is Lecturer in Development Economics at King’s College London, and member of the AHE management committee.
Carolina Alves is Associate Professor in Economics at the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) at University College London, and a Fellow in Economics at Girton College, University of Cambridge.
Surbhi Kesar is Senior Lecturer in Economics at SOAS, University of London, and former member of the AHE management committee.
Ingrid Harvold Kvangraven is Senior Lecturer in International Development at King’s College London, and member of the AHE management committee.

Book launch in London

Tuesday, July 8th 2025 at 6:30-9pm 

Marx Memorial Library & Workers School, 37A Clerkenwell Green London EC1R 0DU

Join us for the launch of Decolonizing Economics: An Introduction, a timely and thought-provoking new book that challenges dominant economic paradigms and explores alternative frameworks.

This special event will feature a discussion with the authors, who will share insights into the book’s central themes, the motivations behind their work, and the importance of a decolonization agenda for reimagining economics. The conversation will be followed by a Q&A session, offering attendees the opportunity to engage directly with the authors.

The evening will conclude with a wine reception, providing a chance to connect with fellow attendees and continue the conversation in a relaxed and convivial setting.

All are welcome. Admission is free, but space is limited—please RSVP to secure your place. Door open at 18:30, discussion will begin at 19:00. 

Important note about the venue: The building presents several significant accessibility challenges for individuals with mobility impairments. There are no step-free or wheelchair-accessible toilet facilities available within the building. The only ground floor toilet, which is gender-neutral, is accessed via three steps. Additionally, the women’s toilet is located on a mid-level floor and is only accessible by a flight of stairs. These conditions fall short of current best practices for accessibility and may significantly hinder access for individuals with disabilities.

Photos from the book launch