The hottest Capitalism Substack posts right now

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How SP culture produces financial crisis

America in Crisis • 59 implied HN points • 01 Jul 24
💰 Finance Capitalism
  1. Financial crisis can stem from a shift in profit usage from investment to financial market growth, impacting economic growth.
  2. SP culture, focusing on shareholder returns through stock buybacks and dividends, can lead to financial instability and economic downturns.
  3. Minsky's financial instability hypothesis outlines how capitalist economies can transition from safe to risky financial structures, culminating in financial crises.

Imperialism: How the struggle of both classes and nations creates our world

Geopolitical Economy Report • 518 implied HN points • 09 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Capitalism
  1. Imperialism is a product of the struggle between classes and nations, impacting our world.
  2. Geopolitical economy helps in understanding international relations within the capitalist world system.
  3. The BRICS summit signifies an alternative economic vision based on cooperation and development, challenging traditional Western imperialism.

LECTURE NOTES: Lash, Cash, & Cotton in the Imperial-Commercial & Early SteamPower Age

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 299 implied HN points • 21 Jun 25
💾 History Capitalism
  1. Slavery changed over time, especially after 1500, when it became more about race and capitalism. Before that, people could become slaves due to war or debt, but that changed.
  2. Wealthy societies benefited from slavery, with the middle class enjoying cheap goods thanks to the suffering of enslaved people. This created a system where profit came at a high human cost.
  3. The idea of race was used to justify slavery, making it seem like it was natural for certain groups to be enslaved. The American Civil War, while costly, was part of the struggle to end this brutal system.
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The great American gaslighting

Men Yell at Me • 307 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Capitalism
  1. Private equity firms often hurt the companies they buy instead of helping them. They can make money by cutting costs and stripping businesses rather than supporting them.
  2. The impact of private equity goes beyond businesses; it seriously affects people in communities. When companies shut down, it's not just a loss of jobs but also a loss of community support and services.
  3. Despite challenges in various industries, there are hopeful stories where businesses thrive by focusing on community needs and creativity instead of just profits. People can find better ways to support their industries and communities.

Chartbook 340 Against synecdoche! … A plural taxonomy of capitalist globalization

Chartbook • 686 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
💼 Business Capitalism
  1. Global capitalism is complex and can't just be understood as one single economy. Different sectors, like finance and agriculture, have their own unique ways of operating.
  2. It's important to recognize the different sectors of capitalism to fully understand how they interact. For example, globalization affects industries like manufacturing and real estate in distinct ways.
  3. By acknowledging that capitalism is made up of many different parts, we can avoid oversimplifying it and appreciate the specific factors at play in each aspect.

Our community round has opened—let's fund this book!

The Novelleist • 282 implied HN points • 29 May 25
💼 Business Capitalism
  1. The community funding round for the book 'We Should Own The Economy' has opened, allowing readers to invest and share in potential profits.
  2. They have already raised almost $60,000 and invite everyone to confirm their investments through a provided link.
  3. There's an open call tonight where participants can ask questions about the book and contribute ideas on how to shape the future of capitalism.

The Road to Hell, part 1 of 3

Thoughts on Writing • 459 implied HN points • 19 Jun 23
💼 Business Capitalism
  1. Purpose in business, particularly social purpose, can lead to flawed ethical thinking and potentially negative outcomes.
  2. The concept of purpose emerged as a response to the reputational crisis faced by big businesses post-2008 financial crisis, aiming to portray them as 'good guys'.
  3. The purpose movement in business and marketing gained momentum in the 2010s but led to questionable outcomes, showcasing a gap between feel-good stories and harsh realities.

Chartbook 339 Uneven and combined development of what? How do we relate global dollars and global cocoa?

Chartbook • 600 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
💼 Business Capitalism
  1. Global dollars and cocoa are connected within the system of capitalism, but they operate under very different political economies. Money is managed through global financial institutions, while cocoa production involves many poor farmers and large corporations.
  2. The relationship between cocoa and global dollars can be explored through the idea of 'sectors' in the economy, like the agro-industrial sector for cocoa and the financial sector for dollars. Each sector functions under its own rules and crises.
  3. Understanding how these sectors combine and differ helps to illustrate the complex dynamics of global capitalism. It’s important to consider how different sectors impact each other and society as a whole.

Questions Concerning Technology; Arendt, 50 years later; Ukraine's Agony

Unpopular Front • 29 implied HN points • 07 Dec 25
💼 Business Capitalism
  1. Technological development is a key factor that influences competition among firms and affects economic performance. New techniques of production can help certain companies or countries to gain an edge over others.
  2. There's ongoing debate about whether profits have actually declined in advanced capitalist economies. Some economists argue there’s evidence for stagnation and low growth since the 1970s, despite high corporate profits.
  3. Investment trends in advanced economies show a decrease, with many companies focusing on shareholder payouts rather than investing back into their businesses. This raises concerns about long-term economic growth.

Why degrowth eco-socialism?

Adapt : Survive : Prevail • 275 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Capitalism
  1. Capitalist growth prioritizes profit over human needs, leading to suffering and environmental degradation.
  2. Degrowth eco-socialism advocates for reducing overall economic activity to align with human needs and sustainability.
  3. Creating an egalitarian society through wealth redistribution and instituting socialism is crucial for a sustainable future.

‘Woke Kindergarten’ Is Capitalism At Work

Singal-Minded • 972 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
💼 Business Capitalism
  1. An elementary school in Hayward, CA spent $250,000 on Woke Kindergarten, a for-profit company, to address student achievement issues.
  2. Despite the investment, student achievement at Glassbrook Elementary has fallen, highlighting the vulnerability of the students and the urgency of quality education.
  3. The situation underscores the capitalistic nature of the educational system, even when initiatives claim to be against capitalism.

*Pro-Market and Pro-Business*: The Sheldon Richman Conversation

Bet On It • 120 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
💼 Business Capitalism
  1. Sheldon Richman was once a left-libertarian but has changed his views over time. It's interesting to see how people's beliefs can evolve as they learn more.
  2. The conversation touches on important topics like markets, business, and capitalism. Understanding these ideas can help us navigate our economy better.
  3. The speaker has been critical of left-libertarianism for years but finds Sheldon’s change in perspective notable. It's important to stay open to new ideas and discussions.

No, Capitalism Did Not Make America the Richest Country

Erik Examines • 268 implied HN points • 25 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Capitalism
  1. America's wealth didn't come solely from capitalism or hard work; other factors played big roles too. There are many things we often overlook when we talk about America's economic success.
  2. Many Europeans didn't come to America only to escape oppression. They actually had other options within Europe, and they were often seeking better land and opportunities instead.
  3. The U.S. had vast resources like fertile land and coal, which helped it industrialize faster than many European countries. These natural advantages were a key reason for America's economic power.

Natural Capitalism is a Fallacy

JoeWrote • 104 implied HN points • 02 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Capitalism
  1. Many people confuse capitalism with markets. Markets can exist in different systems, but capitalism is specifically about private ownership of production.
  2. Capitalism isn't a natural part of human existence; it was created and is maintained by those who benefit from it. This is an important distinction in discussions about economic systems.
  3. A big reason people defend capitalism is that it's easier to say it's natural than to argue why the private ownership of companies should stay as it is. This simplification can mislead discussions about alternatives.

Capitalism put an end to systematic warfare

Wood From Eden • 960 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
🌍 World Politics Capitalism
  1. Capitalism led to the decline of systematic warfare as the main way for producers to compete.
  2. Human evolution has been a struggle between individual and group selection, where societies with best productivity survived wars.
  3. The shift to the market economy allowed producers to compete directly, promoting productivity without the need for destructive warfare.

LIVE AT DEMOCRACY JOURNAL: Reviewing John Cassidy's "Capitalism & Its Critics"

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 107 implied HN points • 02 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Capitalism
  1. Capitalism has a strong ability to adapt and change, even in tough times. It constantly finds new ways to survive and reinvent itself.
  2. Critics of capitalism present many ideas, but they often lack a clear, unified plan. Their concerns are important and reflect deep societal issues.
  3. The main way capitalism communicates is through pricing, but this system can fail. It doesn't always provide the information needed for effective decision-making.

A Requiem for Techno-Optimism

Banana Peel Pirouette • 118 implied HN points • 01 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Capitalism
  1. Vaporwave and mallsoft genres often reflect nostalgia for the past and critique the impact of digital culture on societal norms.
  2. The evolution of internet culture from anonymity to personal branding shifted social dynamics and expectations.
  3. The decline of physical malls symbolizes the shift towards online shopping and the changing nature of consumer experiences.

On the shitfication of cities

The Leftovers • 219 implied HN points • 05 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Capitalism
  1. The city is constantly evolving and being impacted by the dynamics of capitalism.
  2. Urban capital accumulation leads to the homogenization of city spaces, diminishing social opportunities and diversity.
  3. A solution to combat the negative impacts of capitalism on cities is through collective efforts to re-socialize spaces and address urban alienation.

HOISTED FROM THE ARCHIVES FROM 1998: Robber Barons

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 207 implied HN points • 15 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Capitalism
  1. Wealth in the economy often concentrates in the hands of a few people, often called billionaires. Their success can depend on timing, connections, and sometimes political favors.
  2. Historically, periods of high wealth concentration have not always led to faster economic growth. Curbs on wealth accumulation can actually coexist with healthy economic performance.
  3. The past presence of 'robber barons' and their role in building infrastructure shows that their success often involved corruption and manipulation, but they also contributed significantly to the nation's development.

Genetic Fitness and Prime Minister Salaries

Ulysses • 79 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Capitalism
  1. Questions are raised about Prime Ministers' salaries and the impact on their performance, highlighting the importance of fair compensation for effective governance.
  2. Wealth generation, inheritance, and income disparity are discussed in relation to social morality and the need for wealth to be created through value-generating activities.
  3. The effectiveness of economic systems in improving quality of life over generations, the role of capital allocation, and the potential risks of policymakers losing touch with the general public are examined.

The Schizophrenia of the GOP Platform

Banana Peel Pirouette • 158 implied HN points • 29 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Capitalism
  1. The GOP platform shows a contradiction between social conservatism and economic conservatism.
  2. Under a capitalist system, traditional values are challenged by the free market's constant evolution.
  3. The emergence of new social dynamics, such as the decline in church attendance and changing family structures, can be attributed to the effects of capitalism.

What is Labor's ideology?

Wheel’s Substack • 157 implied HN points • 02 May 23
🌍 World Politics Capitalism
  1. Political parties choose actions based on electoral impact, ideology, or belief in outcomes.
  2. Labor's ideology can be categorized as labor-inclusive capitalism.
  3. Labor aims to balance welfare policies to maintain stability in labor-inclusive capitalism.

Let us be honest: The Left has failed the world

antoniomelonio • 170 implied HN points • 28 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Capitalism
  1. The Left is seen as weak and disorganized, lacking a clear vision or plan for the future. Instead of leading change, it often gets caught up in fighting itself.
  2. Historical movements, like communism and anarchism, have struggled to create lasting successes and often became absorbed by the systems they aimed to challenge.
  3. The rise of artificial intelligence might pose a threat to capitalism, but the Left is mostly unprepared and lacks a unifying strategy to address these changes.

“Succession” and the end of the illusion of ethical capitalism

Global Inequality and More 3.0 • 890 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Capitalism
  1. The idea that capitalism can be successful and ethical is shattered by the portrayal in the TV series 'Succession.'
  2. The distinction between a society following legal rules versus one that is truly ethical is highlighted, emphasizing the need to minimize the use of power in both markets and within companies.
  3. The blurring of moral lines between personal and professional spheres in 'Succession' serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive influence of commercialization and amoral behavior in our society.

Capitalism unchained

Global Inequality and More 3.0 • 830 implied HN points • 04 May 23
🌍 World Politics Capitalism
  1. Democracy does not necessarily come with capitalism and may even be destroyed by it.
  2. Unbridled capitalism leads to social instability empowering right-wing parties.
  3. Success of Western capitalism in mid-20th century was influenced by pressure from Soviet Union and left-wing parties, which led to a period against normal capitalist tendencies.

The Beast That Can't Be Killed

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 150 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Capitalism
  1. Capitalism has a tough time changing, even with attempts at regulation. Efforts to control it often fail, showing that it can be very resilient.
  2. Billionaires and powerful capitalists can influence and undermine regulatory bodies. Efforts to create rules for them can be ignored or dismantled.
  3. The system of capitalism can lead to negative outcomes for everyone, as the wealthy often prioritize their interests over the public good.

Only Socialism Can Fix This (Gestures to The American Hellscape)

JoeWrote • 139 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Capitalism
  1. America needs more than just minor repairs; it needs a complete rethink of how power and wealth are distributed. Simple fixes won't stop the rise of aggressive capitalism.
  2. The New Deal helped many but didn't end the dangers of capitalism, which still threaten social programs like Medicare and Social Security.
  3. We must not only push for useful social policies but also ensure that the systems allowing wealth concentration are dismantled to protect those policies for the future.

Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism (w/ Yanis Varoufakis) | The Chris Hedges Report

The Chris Hedges Report • 146 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Capitalism
  1. Yanis Varoufakis argues that capitalism is dead and has been replaced by 'technofeudalism', where power is held by digital platform owners like Amazon and Google instead of traditional capitalists. This means we now work for these tech giants like serfs on a feudal estate.
  2. In today's world, our digital identities and personal data are owned by private companies, which affects our autonomy and privacy. We are constantly being influenced and monitored by these companies, changing how we interact with others and ourselves.
  3. Varoufakis suggests that to reclaim power, we need to combine traditional labor movements with new technology. This could mean organizing strikes and boycotts while also using digital tools to create parallel systems that empower workers and challenge corporate control.

'War on drugs has failed': At UN, Colombia condemns 'addiction to money and oil'

Geopolitical Economy Report • 219 implied HN points • 27 Sep 22
🌍 World Politics Capitalism
  1. Colombia's President declared 'The war on drugs has failed,' pointing out that drug addiction is a social issue linked to capitalism's 'addiction to money and oil.'
  2. Gustavo Petro emphasized that peace with the planet is necessary for peace between nations, condemning the Global North for its treatment of refugees and migrants.
  3. Petro warned that the focus on profit and irrational power is leading to environmental destruction and climate disaster, calling for an end to the war on drugs and all conflicts.

A brief history of capitalism (& socialism & communism)

The Novelleist • 684 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Capitalism
  1. Industrialization led to the growth of big corporations, creating inequality which sparked movements for socialism and communism.
  2. Workers' rights improved through regulations in capitalist countries after World War II, leading to economic prosperity.
  3. Capitalism emerged as the most successful economic model globally, but there are ongoing challenges like wealth inequality and environmental impact that need to be addressed.

What is the point of profit?

The Novelleist • 608 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
💼 Business Capitalism
  1. Capitalism has lifted billions out of poverty, but also causes harm and inequality
  2. There's a growing movement towards stakeholder capitalism over shareholder capitalism
  3. Companies are being seen as potentially better at addressing societal issues than governments