Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff

Latest Episodes:

Revolutionary Socialism in the US Today Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

In this week's episode of Economic Update, Professor Wolff delivers updates on Die Linke ("The Left") political party surging in Germany, the errors and omissions in Bessent's anti-Iran sanctions program, and the background of the historic victory of unionized public workers (bus drivers) in Jackson, Mississippi, with the help of Jackson's political leaders. The second half of today's show features an interview with Kshama Sawant, revolutionary socialist, and 3-time election winner of a seat on Seattle City Council.

Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a production of Democracy at Work, Inc., and any reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited without written permission. We make it a point to keep the show ad-free and rely solely on viewer support to continue doing so. Every donation counts and helps us reach a larger audience with the information they need to better understand the events around the world that they won't find anywhere else.

We want to thank our devoted community of supporters who help make this show and the others we produce possible each week. We kindly ask you to also support the work we do by encouraging others to subscribe to our YouTube channel and website: www.democracyatwork.info

Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapitalism

Professor Wolff's "Understanding Series," is available for purchase: https://linktr.ee/RichardWolffBooks

Activism in the U.S. Now Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Professor Wolff delivers updates on new research documenting market failure to meet the urgent, large need for childcare in the US, the selective morality of Ambassador Huckabee, the empty threats by corporations and the rich to leave jurisdictions that dare to tax them, and the significance of the debt passing milestone of $40 trillion. The second half of today's show features an interview with long-time activist and organizer, David Cobb, on the resurgence and importance of activism in the U.S. today

Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapitalism

Professor Wolff's "Understanding Series," is available for purchase: https://linktr.ee/RichardWolffBooks

Economic Hardship Reporting Project Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff delivers updates on the Starbucks Workers United call-to-boycott, the powerful lyrics of Dolly Parton's song "9 to 5," and the recent electoral victories by socialists and progressives, especially N'Kiyla Jasmine Thomas in Oklahoma. The second half of the show features an interview with Alissa Quart, co-author with Barbara Ehrenreich and founder of the Economic Hardship Reporting Project.

Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapitalism

Professor Wolff's "Understanding Series," is available for purchase: https://linktr.ee/RichardWolffBooks

Socialism: An Evolving Tradition Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Today's entire program is devoted to tracing the origins and evolution of socialism through its splits and growth to become a global movement shadowing capitalism. Particular attention is paid to the specialist focus on capturing the state and the split between electoral/evolutionary approaches to that capture, as well as revolutionary approaches. A guiding theme is the relevance of socialism's rich history to its resurgence via the DSA in the US today.

We hope you enjoy this discussion and look forward to joining you next week for another all-new episode of Economic Update.

Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapitalism

Economics of the U.S. State Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

Today's entire program approaches the economic role of the state in U.S. society, past and present. We analyze two major tensions: one between minimizing the state (liberalism/libertarianism) and maximizing it (New Deal/Trumpism), and the other between a state that serves the employer class and one that serves the working class. We end with a glance at where the current rise of the DSA fits into that second tension.

We hope you enjoy this discussion and look forward to joining you next week for another all-new episode of Economic Update.

Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapitalism

The Resurgence of White Supremacy Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff delivers updates on U.S. businesses receiving refunds for Trump's illegal tariffs without lowering prices raised to cover them, a 24% decline in foreign students coming to the U.S., and an emerging labor shortage in the U.S. economy. The second half of the show features an interview with Prof. Lucas Wilson, Mt Holyoke College, on the resurgence of white supremacy in the US today. We hope you enjoy this discussion and look forward to joining you next week for another all-new episode of Economic Update. Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a production of Democracy at Work, Inc., and any reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited without written permission. We make it a point to keep the show ad-free and rely solely on viewer support to continue doing so. Every donation counts and helps us reach a larger audience with the information they need to better understand the events around the world that they won't find anywhere else.

Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapita...

DSA Revives Socialism in U.S. Politics Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff delivers updates on new U.S. government rules that are universally hostile to international students, the reduction of prosecutions for white collar crime by the U.S. Justice Department while increasing pressures on Shawn Fain, head of the powerful United Auto Workers union, an that there are now over 200 people in the Caribbean and Pacific that have been killed by the U.S. military without lawyers, trials, or judges in show of disregard for law. The second half of today's show features an interview with Dr. Wilmer J. Leon III, Professor of Political Science and specialist on U.S. politics.

We hope you enjoy this discussion and look forward to joining you next week for another all-new episode of Economic Update.

Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapitalism

The Great Shift of Economic Thought from Macro to Micro Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

The rational approach is to ask which works better in an industry or to meet any social need: private enterprise or government enterprise. It is irrational and dogmatic to think only one or the other is allowed. For 100 years we have wasted time debating which is good and which bad. It's time to move on. Let's talk less about macro-issues like private vs public and more about the micro issue: what is the best way to organize enterprises (factories, offices, and stores): top-down hierarchical or democratic. That could bring much-needed change and improvement to today's economic systems.

We hope you enjoy this discussion and look forward to joining you next week for another all-new episode of Economic Update.

Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapita...

A Critique of Profit Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff devotes the entire show to a critical analysis of profit. The point is to show that it is a very biased way to look at capitalist economies and a biased way to make investment decisions. Both biases are shown to be deeply undemocratic.

We hope you enjoy this discussion and look forward to joining you next week for another all-new episode of Economic Update.

Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapitalism

U.S. Housing Crisis Deepens Jul 20, 2026

Show notes

This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff presents updates on the Australian dockworkers' union's fight against A.I., the German auto workers' fight against VW layoffs, Private Suites running private terminals for rich U.S. flyers, and Bayer/Monsanto profiting by manipulating U.S. farmers' organizations. The second half of the show features an interview with Donald H Whitehead, Jr., the director of the National Coalition of the Homeless.

We hope you enjoy this discussion and look forward to joining you next week for another all-new episode of Economic Update.

Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapitalism

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