Capitalisn't
By University of Chicago Podcast Network
We investigate how capitalism is—or more often isn’t—working in our world today. Hosted by economist Luigi Zingales and business journalist Bethany McLean, our podcast explains why capitalism can go wrong and what we can do to fix it. Send us your questions or comments by emailing capitalisntpod@gmail.com Cover photo attributions: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/research/stigler/about/capitalisnt.
13 episodes
All Episodes
Employer-Sponsored Insurance Undermines Capitalism and Drives Inequality
Employer-sponsored insurance hides healthcare costs, distorts consumer behavior, and drives income inequality by suppressing wages. Understand these hidden consequences to navigate toward a sustainable future.
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State Symbiosis: Muskism's Instrumentalization of Government Power
"Muskism" redefines capitalism, instrumentalizing government for private gain and offering "sovereignty through technology." This engineering mindset prioritizes optimization, risking alienation and undermining democratic institutions.
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Capitalism's Promise Hollow: Macro Data vs. Individual Opportunity
Capitalism's promise feels hollow as systemic failures in healthcare, education, and opportunity create a divide between aggregate growth and individual experience.
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College Wage Premium Erosion Fuels Societal Discontent and Instability
A generation of educated workers faces disillusionment as the college wage premium erodes, creating psychological injury and societal instability from dashed aspirations.
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Market Frictions--Not Greed--Stifle Worker Wages
Market frictions, not just greed, suppress wages by giving employers power. Understand these invisible walls to push back against stagnant paychecks and unlock your true earning potential.
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Adam Smith's Critical Lens on Power and Wealth Distortion
Adam Smith's "invisible hand" hides a complex critique of how concentrated wealth distorts markets and politics. Understand this deeper Smith to diagnose and address modern economic inequality.
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Centralization Stifles Innovation, Leading to Stagnation
Progress isn't guaranteed. Discover how centralized power and prioritizing exploitation over exploration can stifle innovation, creating systemic friction that impedes long-term economic vitality.
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Judicial Abdication Fuels Capitalism's Erosion and Undermines Democracy
Judicial overreach, driven by congressional abdication and special interests, undermines capitalism and democracy. Understand how this structural failure erodes market stability and democratic principles.
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Adam Smith's Warning: Elite Networks Erode Market Legitimacy
Elite networks, not merit, now dictate success, eroding capitalism's legitimacy and Adam Smith's warnings about concentrated power.
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Private Law Architects Capitalism, Entrenching Power and Inequality
The legal code is the architecture of capitalism, actively shaping it to benefit the powerful by enclosing resources and creating private power bases.
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Engineered Engagement Fuels Sports Betting's Societal Ruin
Sports betting apps are engineered to exploit psychological vulnerabilities, leading to increased bankruptcies and societal costs, challenging conventional notions of personal responsibility.
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Service Sector Drives Development, Demanding Re-evaluation of Work Value
Manufacturing is no longer the engine of economic growth or middle-class creation. The future lies in services, demanding a re-evaluation of how we value essential work to avoid a two-tiered society.
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Federal Reserve Independence Erodes Through Wall Street Capture
Explore how central bank independence, designed to prevent political interference, can subtly erode, leading to a dangerous disconnect between power and accountability, with markets lulled into a false sense of security.
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