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.

9 episodes

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Market Frictions--Not Greed--Stifle Worker Wages

Apr 02, 2026

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

Mar 26, 2026

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

Mar 12, 2026

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

Mar 05, 2026

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

Feb 26, 2026

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

Feb 19, 2026

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

Feb 05, 2026

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

Jan 22, 2026

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

Jan 15, 2026

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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