Economic Update

Economic Update - Beyond Universal Basic Income

 In-depth analysis of UBI shows its advantages over most welfare, safety net systems. An even better alternative would avoid capitalism's unnecessary production of unemployment because it utilizes technical progress (rising productivity) for profits. The alternative benefits workers' leisure rather than profits. It is more democratic and avoids splitting people into unemployed vs employed, non-poor vs poor. population.

Economic Update - Fascism: An Analysis for Today

An in-depth analysis of fascism as massive government intervention to protect and save a crashing capitalism. We focus on today's examples, historical parallels (in Germany and Italy), and how "strong men" leaders push fascist agendas. We discuss how fascism and socialism differ and how nationalism serves as fascism's social "disguise.

Economic Update - Political Activism's Revival

Updates on International Women's Day, UC to make all research free, Cuomo begs and bribes Amazon again, US denounces UK protectionism, Spain = #1 healthiest country vs US at #35, how Trump/GOP raised taxes and thereby cut refunds. Interview with Eleanor Goldfield, creator and host of Act Out! TV show on political activism today.

Economic Update - Renewing Labor's Movement

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

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

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

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

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

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

 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.