Amidst today's threats to the environment, human dignity, and democratic institutions, this book offers a new vision. Based on the work of over 300 social scientists, it shows how to rethink and reform society's key institutions - markets, corporations, welfare policies, democratic processes and transnational governance - to create better societies.

At this time when many have lost hope amidst conflicts, terrorism, environmental destruction, economic inequality and the breakdown of democracy, this beautifully written book outlines how to rethink and reform our key institutions - markets, corporations, welfare policies, democratic processes and transnational governance - to create better societies based on core principles of human dignity, sustainability, and justice. This new vision is based on the findings of over 300 social scientists involved in the collaborative, interdisciplinary International Panel on Social Progress. Relying on state-of-the-art scholarship, these social scientists reviewed the desirability and possibility of all relevant forms of long-term social change, explored current challenges, and synthesized their knowledge on the principles, possibilities, and methods for improving the main institutions of modern societies. Their common finding is that a better society is indeed possible, its contours can be broadly described, and all we need is to gather forces toward realizing this vision.

Advance praise: 'Better is always possible: this is the vision of the authors of this book, and it is also the vision of our government. The book's focus on well-being and freedom, fairness, diversity and inclusion, as well as transparency and engagement provides a strong ethical and practical foundation for that vision. I commend the authors for their book's demonstration of how social science can serve the common good, and how, together, hope and hard work can lead to a better world.' The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Quebec