People, Power, and Profits

Progressive Capitalism for an Age of Discontent

By: Joseph E. Stiglitz

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

A Nobel prize winner challenges us to throw off the free market fundamentalists and reclaim our economy.

We all have the sense that the American economy - and its government - tilts toward big business, but as Joseph E. Stiglitz explains in his new book, People, Power, and Profits, the situation is dire. A few corporations have come to dominate entire sectors of the economy, contributing to skyrocketing inequality and slow growth. This is how the financial industry has managed to write its own regulations, tech companies have accumulated reams of personal data with little oversight, and our government has negotiated trade deals that fail to represent the best interests of workers. Too many have made their wealth through exploitation of others rather than through wealth creation. If something isn't done, new technologies may make matters worse, increasing inequality and unemployment.

Stiglitz identifies the true sources of wealth and of increases in standards of living, based on learning, advances in science and technology, and the rule of law. He shows that the assault on the judiciary, universities, and the media undermines the very institutions that have long been the foundation of America's economic might and its democracy.

©2019 Joseph E. Stiglitz (P)2019 Tantor

simple enough a politician could understand it

hopefully our foolish politicians will give this a listen before the next erroneous tax bill

Great material, a must read!

The author articulates what anyone who cares to would observe about our nation. He also goes on to explain some solutions to our economic dysfunction. Were it not for his semifrequent reiterating previous reasoning I'd have given 5 stars. (note: I redundancy is a particular pet peeve of mine and most people may not even notice)

Superbly describes the decline of US society

An excellent description of the american society in the second guilded age.Should be required reading in high school

Excellent Summary

While I can’t say the ideas are new in this book the author does an excellent job of pulling all the criticisms of our current system together and providing concrete solutions. Required reading for any progressive.

Joseph Stiglitz' vision for a reclaimed America

I respect Joe Stiglitz. I respect his opinions, his experience and his judgment. When he speaks, much as with Richard Wolff or Bill Black, I listen. However, when he expresses the view that out of control markets and an American polity now wholly in the cash-soaked stranglehold of corporate capture can somehow be reclaimed from its current iteration of absolute immoral degeneracy through a combination of existing and new laws, and the implementation of a brash new can-do spirit, I can not agree. Only replacing Capitalism with human-centered, rational, egalitarian economics can ever achieve that.

Survival kit

This is a map of where we have been and where we headed to. A must read for young and old alike.
Our politicians, should work for the entire polis, because by maintaining only one small neighborhood, the entire city would collapse.

Good vision and explained clearly

The ideas are well argumented and a good foundation to convince people to make the choices necessary to provide better living conditions for all and turning away from egotistical thinking.

Powerful explanations with simple words. Resonating with previous works of the author

The book is focused on the US while some of the topics raised have global dimensions like climate change, trade which are shared.

A road map from where we are to where we should go

Noble Prize winner Joseph Stiller writes another volume addressing the United States’s economic and political morass and presents the economic reforms that can be made, and urges the political will to make them. This is one of those essential reads. If we could get it in more hands.

Great summary of progressive theory, but a bit dry

The book does a great job of breaking down progressive economic and political theory.

Lots of great points but nothing too radical. Reads like a Powerpoint presentation of a doctoral thesis. :-) A bit of a slog to get through, honestly.