The hottest Capitalism Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Links for Friday, Feb 16

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 15 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate targets Imperialism Capitalism Monopoly
  1. Reading and listening resources curated for sharing on Fridays, with a mix of links and other content sources.
  2. Challenges facing net-zero targets, particularly on assumptions about oil, gas, and coal use, leading to necessary revisions by companies and financial services.
  3. Discussion on imperialism, US involvement in wars abroad, and the relationship to capitalism, highlighting war as a significant economic driver in certain contexts.

Boring but not necessarily meaningless

Internal exile • 26 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🎭️ Culture Social media Authenticity Capitalism Technology Self
  1. BeReal's new feature 'RealPeople' showcases famous individuals doing ordinary things to seem relatable.
  2. The concept of authenticity in social media often masks deeper contradictions and socioeconomic tensions.
  3. BeReal and similar platforms strive to commodify and sell the idea of authenticity, contributing to a culture of self-simulation and inauthenticity.

Jan Berger: Compressed Time — Final Fantasy VIII as a Model of Our World

Do Not Research • 19 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Video Games Capitalism Politics Time History
  1. Final Fantasy VIII is used as a model to explore political and cultural conditions of our current times.
  2. The game's narrative reflects capitalist ideologies and the characters' struggles to bring about change.
  3. Time compression in the game is linked to speculative realism and the idea that the future influences and organizes the present.
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Twee Whistler: Conspiracy Advertisement Campaign

Do Not Research • 19 implied HN points • 11 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Conspiracy Art Society Politics Capitalism
  1. The art installations based on the #Pizzagate conspiracy theory are a blend of fake-news ads and product placement, reflecting the nature of capitalism seeking profits.
  2. The images serve as projections of contemporary anxieties surrounding gender policies, child exploitation, immigration, and environmental issues.
  3. While conspiracy theories should not be condemned, addressing the root issues behind them can help prevent individuals from resorting to extreme actions out of feelings of powerlessness.

VOL 62: Capitalism, Socialism and Communism Comparisons

MAP's Tech Newsletter. • 14 implied HN points • 20 May 23
🌍 World Politics Socialism Capitalism Economic Systems International relations Government Systems
  1. Sweden transitioned from socialism to capitalism in the 1990s and saw rapid economic growth.
  2. Socialism and capitalism exist on a spectrum with pros and cons, and a balance of both systems may be ideal for a country's specific circumstances.
  3. Capitalism, as the dominant economic system, has shown progress in areas like life expectancy and poverty reduction but is not without challenges like inequality.

Computer says no

The Leftovers • 1 HN point • 19 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Capitalism Technology Workplace Social Issues Literature
  1. Faceless capitalism and the normalization of algorithmic culture lead to dehumanizing work environments and exploitative systems.
  2. Unpaid labor is increasingly common in today's society, with self-checkouts and other technological advancements making consumers work for corporations without compensation.
  3. The rise of algorithmic decision-making poses a risk to social justice and prioritizes efficiency over human considerations, potentially leading to a future where profit prevails over well-being.

Depopulation and Decadence

The Permanent Problem • 4 HN points • 10 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Demographics Capitalism Globalization Economic Impact Cultural shift
  1. There is a global trend of declining fertility rates, leading to population shrinkage in many countries.
  2. The decline in fertility rates is a fundamental issue affecting society's ability to innovate, be productive, and flourish.
  3. The author suggests that the current capitalist system is failing globally as an engine of social progress, and alternative social arrangements are needed.

From the WIRED archives: The trajectory of any emerging technology bends toward money

The Future, Now and Then • 2 HN points • 04 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Emerging Tech Capitalism
  1. The predictions made by technologists in the 90s and 00s often underestimate the impact of capitalism on technological development.
  2. Experts tend to focus on the potential of technology without adequately considering the influence of revenue streams.
  3. To shape a better future, it's crucial to recognize and address the significant role of money in driving the trajectory of emerging technologies.

Rebalancing Capitalism

The Permanent Problem • 4 implied HN points • 23 May 23
📖 Philosophy Capitalism Social Progress Technology Human flourishing
  1. Technological progress alone is not enough to address capitalism's crisis of inclusion; new social arrangements are needed.
  2. The goal is to supplement capitalism by promoting economic independence through small-scale, face-to-face divisions of labor at the household, neighborhood, and community levels.
  3. An economic independence movement could lead to a more balanced society, offering a better, more fulfilling life for many and creating countervailing power against the capitalist elite.

5 Important Lessons I’ve Learned from Thomas Sowell

Wayne's Earth • 0 implied HN points • 14 Dec 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economics Government Capitalism Socialism
  1. A free market economy allows businesses and individuals to thrive without government interference, leading to economic efficiency and higher living standards.
  2. Incentives are powerful motivators that drive people and businesses to take specific actions, such as producing goods and services that consumers desire.
  3. Government intervention in the economy can result in crony capitalism, where businesses gain unfair advantages through political connections, harming the overall economy.

The discourse about AI is weirdly terrible

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 08 May 23
🕹 Technology AI Regulation Market Capitalism Automation
  1. The debate on AI lacks economics and is often polarized and unproductive.
  2. The core of the AI discussion is essentially about regulation, where uncertainty should be acknowledged and addressed through experimentation.
  3. Wealthy individuals, despite their usual stance against regulation, are concerned about AI's potential power and advocate for regulation to potentially prevent threats to their status quo.

Et tu SSRN?

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 17 May 16
💼 Business Acquisitions Publishing Platforms Capitalism
  1. SSRN, a social science paper repository, is being acquired by Elsevier, a legacy publisher, which may cause concerns about potential changes to SSRN's open-access policies.
  2. Academic platforms like SSRN provide valuable services, but they also need financial support to sustain their operations, often leading to acquisitions by larger entities.
  3. The acquisition of SSRN by Elsevier reflects the balance between providing accessible research platforms and the necessity for financial sustainability in the academic publishing ecosystem.

Live at 10am PT: Private Equity in Emergency Rooms, Meta Censorship of Palestinian Genocide, Israeli Real Estate Firms Run By Evil People, and more

Xavi Benjamin • 0 implied HN points • 08 Apr 24
🌍 World Politics Middle East Censorship Real Estate Ethics Capitalism
  1. Today's livestream will discuss how capitalism negatively impacts emergency rooms
  2. Meta is reportedly engaging in censorship related to posts about the Palestinian genocide
  3. There are Israeli real estate firms that have been criticized for making genocidal jokes

Sean Kennedy: Interfaces for Dead Dreams

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 19 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Digital Art Sculptures Architecture Capitalism American culture
  1. America is depicted in various ways in art and culture, showcasing the complexity and diversity of the country's landscapes and people.
  2. Interfaces for Dead Dreams is a collection of digital sculptures representing an evolving America, blending old architectural elements with modern digital techniques.
  3. The sculptures in the series highlight the changing priorities of American capitalism, shifting from beauty and longevity to efficiency and cost cutting, reflecting the eras they represent.

Michael Bikeal: Skitching w/NPCs

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 22
🎭️ Culture Capitalism Politics Social Change
  1. Psychogeography encourages unconventional ways of engaging with infrastructure to reconnect with more inventive and fun ways of navigating the world.
  2. Skitching involves riding a bicycle and getting pulled by a moving car, offering a unique and thrill-inducing DIY transportation experience.
  3. The concept of NPC memes dehumanizes individuals and reflects a societal struggle with dissociation caused by modern capitalism's impact on our minds and experiences.

Dank Lloyd Wright: Wanderer Above the Burning Yards

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Sep 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Architecture Capitalism Neoliberalism
  1. Hudson Yards in Manhattan symbolizes the trend of privatized urban development under capitalism.
  2. The architecture community is grappling with being dominated by finance capital and speculative real estate, leading to a lack of solidarity and meaningful change.
  3. There is a growing desire within the younger generation of architects for an anti-capitalist narrative and a need for outlets to express frustrations and disappointments.

Grace Menninger: Invisible Hand

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 05 Jul 21
🎭️ Culture Religion Capitalism Geography History Identity
  1. The United States is deeply shaped by the intersection of religion and capitalism, evident in places like factories and churches that dominate the landscape.
  2. American Protestantism and Mormonism exemplify how religion and capitalism intertwine, with Protestantism showcasing the country's work ethic and devotion, and Mormonism reflecting a blend of Christian faith and financial interests.
  3. The Midwest landscapes convey a sense of divine apocalypse through elements like tornado-twisted trees, abandoned factories, endless train tracks, and the eerie coexistence of religious symbols and capitalist remnants.

Jak Ritger: Towards Crypétournement

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 20 Mar 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Digital Art NFTs Crypto History Capitalism
  1. Counter-narratives flourished after Donald Trump's removal, like the r/WallStreetBets Gamestop surge, showing the power of online communities in financial markets.
  2. NFTs are reshaping the role of cryptocurrency by introducing use value beyond speculation, ushering in emotional connections to digital assets.
  3. The rise of Art NFTs mirrors historical trends in art and capitalism, stimulating crypto-capital with seasonal drops and creating symbolic gestures of power and ownership.

Jak Ritger: The MLM Project Log 1: What is Multi-level Marketing?

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 19 Mar 21
💼 Business Marketing Capitalism Entrepreneurship Policy Critique
  1. Multi-level Marketing (MLM) relies on a non-salaried workforce to sell products and often results in financial troubles for participants.
  2. Studying MLMs can help critique capitalist structures and push for anti-capitalist actions beyond elitist perspectives.
  3. The aim is to create an off-ramp from MLMs and work towards abolishing this pyramid-shaped industry.

Why Progress Failed Us

Homo Ludens • 0 implied HN points • 04 May 24
📖 Philosophy Progress Technology Society Capitalism Ethics
  1. Progress doesn't always lead to a better future like in the Jetsons world, with some advancements having negative consequences.
  2. Scientific and technological progress can improve some aspects of life, like clean water and reduced food crises, but these benefits might not reach everyone equally.
  3. Progress often comes at a cost, controlled by wealthy nations and corporations, with advancements used for surveillance and control rather than promoting democracy.

Cats Playing Heavy Metal: Mongolia Finding Itself in the Modern World

Homo Ludens • 0 implied HN points • 19 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Music Capitalism Globalization History Cultural Evolution
  1. Karl Marx foresaw the power of capital and globalization in the modern era, but failed to account for capitalism's enticing nature and adaptability.
  2. The Mongolian transition from socialist-communist to democratic-capitalist society has brought wealth but also challenges in defining cultural identity and navigating global influences.
  3. Globalization and capitalism impact traditional cultures, like Mongolian heavy metal music, leading to a struggle for meaning and connection in the face of commodification.

On capitalism and the ethics of the endtimes

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 19 May 11
📖 Philosophy Ethics Capitalism Libertarianism Societal norms Market Dynamics
  1. Rapture insurance is a product being sold that promises to take care of pets if their owners disappear during the Rapture. Some people think it’s silly, but others see a market for it.
  2. It's debated whether it should be legal to sell rapture insurance, especially considering it can't be verified if it will pay out. However, as long as fraud is avoided, it might not be a problem.
  3. Price gouging on rapture insurance raises questions about market fairness. While prices should reflect risk, it's unsettling if people exploit fear for profit, especially during uncertain times.

Capitalism, Marxism, and Islam

Neosapien’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 06 Nov 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Islam Capitalism Marxism Economics Religion
  1. Capitalism has advantages like low prices and innovation but faces criticism for instability and reinforcing class divisions.
  2. Marxism critiques capitalism for class inequality and instability, but some aspects are less relevant in the modern economy.
  3. Islam offers economic regulations like Zakat, bans on Riba, and speculation, which could potentially address issues in capitalism.

The Capitalist Response

Black Lodges • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Conflict International Organizations Humanitarian Aid Genocide Capitalism
  1. Living conditions deteriorate gradually, and we adapt instead of escaping, akin to the boiling frog syndrome.
  2. The ICJ ruling and UNRWA funding cuts reflect the capitalist ruling class's response to challenges.
  3. Ending capitalism and achieving a total revolution is necessary to stop the violence and oppression perpetuated by the capitalist hegemony.