Economic Update

Economic Update- Capitalism Vs Patriarchy

On this week’s Economic Update, Professor Richard Wolff discusses the growing Labor movement and the nuclear disarmament movements in the United States; we will also examine the economic impacts of people under 50 not having nor wanting to have children; we highlight the UK Conservatives fearmongering claiming Free Speech is in danger from "cancel culture" and how anti "cancel culture" legislation was blocked by the new Labor gov't; We also discuss an Ohio court ruling that favors employers over the general public around boneless chicken that had bones. Finally, we end the show with an interview with psychotherapist Tess Fraad-Wolff on gender, the patriarchy, and recent changes in capitalism.

Economic Update- Capitalism, Today's World Economy and Gaza

On this week's program, we question the effectiveness as well as the economics of US sanctions (Economic Warfare), also the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) endorses the United Auto Workers (UAW) plan of setting all union contracts to expire on May 1, 2028, essentially laying the groundwork for a "General Strike". We also highlight the latest rhetoric from the US Chamber of Commerce's declaration of a "labor shortage" which only masks their desire for government help in procuring more workers without having to offer higher pay and better working conditions to overcome the "phony" labor shortage. Finally, we Interview Professor Clara Mattei from Rio as Brazil hosts G20 meetings and discuss the protest events calling for an end to the suffering of the people of Gaza.

Economic Update- Capitalism Vs. Marriage

This week's new episode features updates on the UK and French elections showing a dramatic shift to the left, contradicting US mass media, US self-induced global economic isolation in pursuit of punishing countries doing business with China, and how Trump and Biden are equally unwilling to solve Social Security's financial problems by taxing the incomes of the rich as Congress could and should do. Finally, Professor Richard Wolff interviews Dr. Harriet Fraad on the global decline in marriage and birth rates and their connections to capitalism. Dr. Harriet Fraad is an author, feminist activist, psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, and host of Capitalism Hits Home.

Economic Update- How Deficits and Debts Rip Us Off

On this week’s Economic Update, Professor Wolff devotes the entire program to explaining clearly what government deficits are, why they occur, and who benefits from them. We show how deficits and debts reward corporations and the rich at the expense of the mass of employees. This show will equip our audience to see through the misuse of deficits and debts in the 2024 election campaigns.

Economic Update- Criminalizing the Homeless

On this week’s Economic Update, Professor Wolff discusses a huge victory for Uber and Lyft drivers' struggling for better wages in Massachusetts; we also bring to your attention six United States senators who criticized Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Chase for failing to curb fossil fuel investments as he promised. In addition, we discuss the unfortunate new law passed by the new right-wing government in Greece extending the working week to six days.

Finally, we close our program with an Interview with longtime activist Rob Robinson, on the latest Supreme Court decision Grants Pass v. Johnson, which essentially criminalizes the homeless poor as part of its extreme right-wing change. Rob Robinson is a formerly homeless individual who has dedicated his life to advocating for the rights of the homeless and for affordable and sustainable housing. 

Economic Update- Capitalism and Struggle Over Climate Change

 On this week’s Economic Update, Professor Wolff discusses the remarkable bursts of unionization at Starbucks in the US, award-winning New York nurse fired for referring to "genocide" in Gaza, and a critique of Paul Krugman's argument that "democracy" is at stake in the 2024 election. Finally, we close with a major discussion on the tension between the realities of climate change and the profit-driven fossil fuel industry that dominates our global economy. Watch it now

Economic Update- Socialisms: From the Old Socialisms to the New

On this week’s Economic Update, the entire program is devoted to how old socialism's rapid growth and global spread in the 19th and 20th centuries entailed a focus on the state. Key issues were: (1) would the socialist state limit itself to regulating capitalist enterprises and the market (as in many Western European nations) to enhance the well-being of the employee class or would the state itself own and operate enterprises and replace the market with state planning (as in the USSR), and (2) would the socialist strategy to acquire state power be reformist and electoral or revolutionary and armed. Concrete experiences in and with both kinds of old (i.e. state-focused) socialism led to self-criticisms from which a new socialism has emerged for the 21st century. The new socialism criticizes the state-focus of the old and prioritizes the transformation of the workplace over the social positioning of the state in and for the socialist vision and strategy.

Economic Update- State Senator and Socialist

 In this week’s Economic Update, Professor Richard Wolff discusses the rise of the Chinese car industry, the struggle between employers and employees over in-person vs remote workplaces, and the US military's anti-vax program in the Philippines as part of the US-China Cold War that is already underway. In the second half of our program, we interview Kristen Gonzalez, New York State Senator, District 59, on progressives winning elections.

Economic Update- The Political Economy Of Tariffs

 In this week’s Economic Update, Professor Richard Wolff devotes the entire program to an analysis of tariffs. We discuss why tariffs are not a worker's issue, why capitalism's continuous swings between free trade and protectionist periods and phases make little impact on workers, and why competing capitalists seek to get workers to support their positions on tariffs.  

Economic Update- Labor Vs. Capital: Struggle in US Intensifies

In this week’s Economic Update, Professor Richard Wolff discusses The Washington Post's exposure of the corporate rich sponsoring police repression against student protests and how Boeing rewards CEOs while it exhibits the airlines' worst safety record. In addition, the UAW loses union election as German capitalists and southern governors join forces to intimidate workers with job threats. Finally, we highlight why mass public transport is a better alternative to gas-powered vehicles than electric vehicles. We end our show with an interview with David Van Deusen, a socialist and leader of Vermont AFL-CIO.