Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff

Latest Episodes:

Economic Update: Renewing Labor's Movement Mar 07, 2019

Show notes

[S9 E10] Updates on striking Oakland school teachers, dangers of declining pensions, bank fined for helping clients evade taxes, in tariff war over black olives US vs EU, stagnant real wages in US explain rising inequality. Interview with Larry Williams, Jr., labor union activist and co-founder of UnionBase.org.

Economic Update: Fighting the System Feb 28, 2019

Show notes

Updates on the economics of immigration, France's yellow vests join union-called general strike, demonstrations against Sackler family's profiting from oxycontin, and New York City Council considers giving priority to fast-food workers (majority) over employers (minority). Major discussions of: (1) successful strikes by Mexican workers and their collaboration with progressive new Mexican government, and (2) Trump/GOP's inheritance tax cut benefits richest, worsens US inequality of opportunity.

Economic Update: Fantasy, Comedy, Tragedy: Delivering News Today Feb 21, 2019

Show notes

Updates on million-person Communist demonstration in India, subsidized "development" by Foxconn and Amazon, merger making big banks bigger, delusion of "bringing back manufacturing" US. Interview with Lee Camp of "Redacted Tonight" on comedy, news and analysis.

Economic Update: Economics of Conflicted Mothers Feb 14, 2019

Show notes

Updates on the government shutdown's very important lessons, US teachers oppose a declining capitalism imposing its costs on the people, and firing the big banksters leaves our big bank problems unsolved. Interview with journalist Julianna Forlano on economic costs and effects of a working mom in US capitalism today.

Economic Update: Police and Policing in the US Feb 07, 2019

Show notes

Prof. Wolff presents updates on (1) the US public education crisis (teacher strikes, declining quality, insufficient resources) and how it undermines the US's economic future, (2) the absurdity of the government shutdown over an ineffective wall and a tiny portion of the government's budget, and (3) how the schools crisis and the shutdown signal a larger social decline. The second part of the show features an interview with Professor Alex Vitale on his book, The End of Policing, and why US police have grown and changed their functions so drastically in recent decades.

Economic Update: Socialism From Past to Future Jan 31, 2019

Show notes

On this episode of Economic Update, Prof. Wolff begins with socialism's history especially in the US: from being widely discussed up to 1945, then repressed in the Cold War, and now vigorously revived since 2008. He then examines socialism's basic economic criticism of capitalism in the 20th century. And finally, he shows how and why the socialism emerging now is new and different.

Economic Update: Yellow Vests and Tax Reform Jan 24, 2019

Show notes

Updates on "yellow vests" spread to UK, book Dying for a Paycheck, the bail-in scam, paying for airplane seat assignments, and postal banking. Major discussions of tax reforms needed and deserved and gentrification as a market injustice.

Economic Update: Politicians Faking it Jan 17, 2019

Show notes

Updates on Luxembourg making all public transport free, Europe evading US sanctions on Iran, Saudi Arabia sleaze deals with Trump, Deutsche Bank corruption massive, Pompeo's anti-China strategy contradicts Trump "nationalism." Interview with journalist Bob Hennelly on politicians betraying workers' and local citizens' needs.

Economic Update: Ecosocialism Jan 10, 2019

Show notes

Updates on New York City council votes minimum wage for ride-hailing drivers (Uber, Lyft, etc.), Trump store is 85% goods made abroad, charter school teachers strike in Chicago, contradictions in US-China trade war, VW ends gas car production in favor of electric in evasion of need for mass transit. Interview Victor Wallis author of Red-Green Revolution: The Politics and Technology of Ecosocialism.

Economic Update: Capitalism - Slow-motion Implosion? Jan 03, 2019

Show notes

Canada cuts corp tax cuts in race to bottom, Macron pleases business but outrages French people, Italy's new gov't budget provides for its people, Hillary Clinton joins right in scapegoating immigrants, and how "quantitative easing" policy after 2008 crash made the rich richer. Interview with Dr Harriet Fraad on psychological implications of the US mid-term elections.