Economics

The ultra-rich are benefitting from disaster capitalism as institutions, rules and democratic oversight implode. By George Monbiot for The Guardian Seven years ago the impressionist Rory Bremner complained that politicians had become so boring that few of them were worth mimicking: “They’re quite homogenous and dull these… »

By Dr James M Dorsey Climate change, much like war, could prove to be a geopolitical and commercial gold mine. At least, that is the take of DP World, Dubai’s global port operator, and Russia’s sovereign wealth fund. DP World is partnering with the fund, the Russian Direct Investment Fund… »

We often read statistics illustrating the accelerated concentration of wealth in the world; a few billionaires accumulate more wealth than the poorest half of the planet, and the richest 1% of the population owns more than half of the world’s wealth. We are resigned, like mere spectators, to a brutal… »

Britain has enough housing – it’s just that a series of outrageous policies makes it accessible only to the rich. By George Monbiot for The Guardian I have a friend who works almost every waking hour, mainly to pay the rent. Her landlord lives on a beach, 4,000 miles… »

At the International Social Forum organised by the UK Labour Party on the 13th and 14th of July 2019 a host of international speakers attended to give talks on subjects from global economics, climate crisis, global finance and accountability, movement of people and trade protectionism.  We publish here the transcript… »

A report I helped publish has led to attacks and flat-out falsehoods in the rightwing media. It’s clear whose interests they serve.  By George Monbiot for The Guardian All billionaires want the same thing – a world that works for them. For many, this means a world in which… »

At an international conference in New York City, a new group of scholars is studying alternatives to capitalism. Lara Monticelli  & Torsten Geelan for openDemocracy (image by Liz MC, CC by 2.0) In an historical moment when governments and citizens around the world are called on to take… »

“Hope is not something that you have. Hope is something that you create, with your actions. Hope is something you have to manifest into the world, and once one person has hope, it can be contagious.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer for Common Dreams “So I’m curious,… »

In 1976 René Goscinny wrote a script for his instalment of Asterix “Obelix and Co.” which turned out to be one of the best studies of neoliberal capitalism and the reasons for its failure. In short, tired of getting defeated by the pugnacious magic potion drinking Gauls who refuse to… »

Public banks have far greater financial capacity than we think. We need to harness it for the good of people and planet. Thomas Marois for openDemocracy Public banks are resurgent, triggered by the failure of private finance to meaningfully confront the green transformation. But will resurgent public banks… »