Synopsis

We were aware of the growing unsustainability of the Portuguese economy, be it by capitalisms turning towards financialisation, the reduction of the capacity for public action, the submission of the collective to the private or the tragedy of climate change. But the uneasiness we felt was comforted by the linearity of the times, and by the future that would always be more or less known. Time, however, collapsed and fell on us overnight. There was no time to avoid or lessen the impact. Without warning. With the coronavirus pandemic threatening everyone, uncovering so many weaknesses, and leaving so many factories at a standstill with only half-made shoes, we have no choice but to act.
In a series of essays, José Reis problematizes the weaknesses and points the way: an economy of care. 
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«Covid-19 revealed what remains and what passes. When the care for life takes precedence, the markets prove useless. The social functions of the State, to ensure health care and livelihood for workers and businesses, were recalled by all.

The «economy of care», of which José Reis speaks, is sustainable because it guarantees a minimum of self-sufficiency - on the contrary, Union is an instrument of total integration and dependence, which leaves the vulnerable ever more vulnerable.
It is only possible in the midst of political, social and economic democracy - on the contrary, Union is a shrinking democratic space. It can exist because it is in a given territory - on the contrary, Union, whilst giving up on cohesion and with its dysfunctional currency, ignores the different economies it embraces, working for the 'winners'. It is all a matter of scale".

^{Daniel Oliveira, in Prefácio}

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"Beyond a diagnosis, which is far from being attained, (...) José Reis puts forward alternatives, especially in the field of regional and industrial policy, for a more self-sufficient and therefore less vulnerable national economy. Caring for this country is in fact to pay attention to its vulnerabilities and the means to overcome them. Be sure to read".

^{João Rodrigues, in Ladrões de Bicicletas, http://ladroesdebicicletas.blogspot.com}

About the author

José Reis holds a PhD Degree in Economics [1989] from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Coimbra, with the thesis titled "Os Espaços da Indústria: a regulação económica e a mediação local numa sociedade semiperiférica". Tenure since 1998. Graduated in Economics in 1978. He was President of the Coordination Committee of the Portuguese Central Territory [1996-1999], State Secretary for Higher Education [1999-2001] and Chairperson of the Scientific Council [1992¬ 1994 and 200-2004] and Director of the Faculty of Economics of the University of Coimbra [2009-2015]. He was Visiting Fellow in universities from the United States of America, France, Italy and Brazil. Currently, he is a member of National Council on Environment and Sustainable Development [2005- ] and coordinator of the PhD Programme on Governance, Knowledge and Innovation [2005- ].

Among several participations in collective works he is author of the books A Economia Portuguesa: Formas de Economia Política numa periferia persistente (1960-2017), Ensaios de Economia Impura, Coimbra, Almedina/CES, Portugal e a Europa em Crise: Para acabar com a economia de austeridade (with João Rodrigues), A Economia Política do Retrocesso: Crise, causas e objetivos