Richard D. Wolff

[S10 E11] New

On this week's episode of EU, Prof. Wolff presents updates on Vancouver, BC, taxing its richest; JP Morgan Chase recognizes climate change threat and market's failure to cope; ways money shapes US politics today and why US women's soccer gender discrimination lawsuit helps all soccer players vs profit-driven soccer federation. The second half of the show features an interview with psychotherapist Tess Fraad-Wolff on why our jobs get us depressed and what to do about it. Watch it now.

Prof. Wolff discusses how the U.S. needs public enterprise to create structural changes to the economy for the American working class.

In the face of the Coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic, the U.S.’ extreme wealth inequality, lack of nationalized health care system, lack of a federal paid sick leave law, and other related issues have shown the nation’s severe vulnerability. In this dangerous new world, we just happen to be in the middle of a critical primary election where one of the two front runners is a self-described democratic socialist who has been touting Medicare-for-All as the central plank of his domestic policy. Is Bernie Sanders the President we need in a pandemic like this?

Between the Corona Virus, the price of oil and an already unstable economy, America might be on the edge of the next great Republican recession.

Markets are back in bear territory as the stock roller coaster continues its ride. Prof. Wolff breaks down what role the ongoing oil crisis is playing in situation. 

Prof Wolff joins Loud and Clear to talk about the fluctuating market, Bernie Sanders, and the Corona Virus pandemic. 

[S10 E10] New

Prof. Wolff talks with KPFA's Mitch Jeserich about the waves of modern socialism in our public discourse - from Occupy Wall Street to Bernie Sanders to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. This conversation appears courtesy of Pacifica's KPFA 94.1 FM.  

[S10 E09]

This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff presents updates on how air-bnb reflects workers' falling living standards, price-gouging anti-virus masks, purpose of Trump's record deficit, end of...READ MORE

As we move closer to the Democratic nomination, the Democratic Party establishment and much of the mainstream media are openly expressing concern about a self-described democratic socialist leading the presidential ticket. His opponents have also attacked his ambitious agenda. On Democracy Now! Prof. Wolff debates fellow economist and New York Times op-ed columnist Paul Krugman on Bernie Sanders and democratic socialism.

Prof. Wolff has some good news and some not so good news about the economy. The good news is that the next economic crash doesn't have to happen, the bad news is that stopping it won't be as simple some would like it to be.

Prof. Wolff discusses his new book Understanding Socialism and the nature of the three major theories of socialism we see in the world today and how it's discussed amongst U.S. candidates and politicians. 

Prof. Wolff discusses how economic as well as personal debt is going to end badly. The U.S. is overwhelmed by huge government, corporate and family debt. It means that if the Fed were to raise interest rates – nobody would be able to afford repayments.

The U.S. has now sanctioned Russian Oil Giant Rosneft as the nation has ramped up its efforts against Venezuela. Prof. Wolff dives into the sanctions, penalties, Venezuela, the oil industry and what it means for the petro sector.

Prof. Wolff's latest article for Truthout: 
"In the wake of Australian fire storms, global crop loss and catastrophic climate shifts, billions of people are recognizing the dangers to society and life itself presented by capitalism’s profit-driven despoiling of nature. At the same time, the last 40 years of deepening inequality inside virtually all nations have undermined their social cohesion, and increasingly, capitalism’s mechanisms are being blamed. Anti-capitalism is exploding across many political landscapes."

Prof. Wolff joins Loud & Clear for his weekly series about the biggest economic news of the week. This week, Prof. Wolff talks about Bernie Sanders' appeal with young people and his standing in the race after the Iowa caucus. This interview appears courtesy of Loud & Clear. 

[S10 E08]

This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff responds to a criticism aimed at how d@w focuses too much on the transition from capitalist firms to worker co-op firms with too little attention paid to...READ MORE

Read Prof. Wolff's latest article for Counter Punch: 
"For the last half-century, US and UK capitalisms led the way in undoing the parallel legacies of the New Deal and Europe’s social democracies. From its ascending Thatcher-Reagan couple to its descending Trump-Johnson imitation, neoliberal capitalism replaced Keynesian capitalism. Private corporate capitalists funded effective campaigns to celebrate neo-liberalism. The US and UK institutionalized it by de-regulating and privatizing further and faster than anywhere else ..."

[S10 E06]

This week’s episode of Economic Update features an introductory discussion by Professor Wolff on capitalism's systematically uneven economic development. From Marx's original criticism of capitalism for producing and...READ MORE

In the last few years, socialist-leaning policies and politicians like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have become more popular in America. Yet, the word itself has become a slur used by politicians and pundits on both sides of the aisle. This short HUFFINGTON POST documentary explores how and why "socialism” became a dirty word.

Prof. Wolff discusses President Trump's State of the Union address and the 2020 election.

Chris Hedges talks with Prof. Wolff about his new book Understanding Socialism. He explains how in the socialist dream, work is something that we should want to engage in, that means something to us, that brings us into relationships with other people who we value, who make us better people as we interact with them; “it’s a transformation of life.”

The Federal Reserve pours money into banks to support the economy, but where does that cash come from? And, more importantly, is that money ever repaid? Prof. Wolff explains how it all works and what effect it has for everyone.

How accurate are the economic statistics that we are told by government, banks and financial institutions? Are some of these numbers faked, to help re-elections of politicians? Prof. Wolff explains how shrinking unemployment doesn't always mean rising quality of life, and how the inverse relationship between desperation jobs and the economy works and what effect it has for everyone.