Tag: economics

Brutal lockout in New Zealand mill town a stark portrait of capitalism’s failed hopes and broken promises

Morgan Godfery In 1948, when my Koro (grandfather) was born, the town of Kawerau was little more than a strip of old homesteads on the road between Rotorua and Whakatane. It had a Presbyterian church and a marae, but the nearest school and store were in the next town over – a 10-minute drive through… Read More Brutal lockout in New Zealand mill town a stark portrait of capitalism’s failed hopes and broken promises

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Anti‑Capitalism Is Cool. When Will It Be Revolutionary Again?

By Rohitha Naraharisetty Lately, there’s been talk of revolution. Not just any, the revolution, with a capital R. There’s some who speak of it in dating app bios and others who are waiting for its “sweet release” in Instagram captions of unrelated scenic photos. Still others express it through memes about eating the rich. But for all the… Read More Anti‑Capitalism Is Cool. When Will It Be Revolutionary Again?

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Lyn Alden: The credit-based global financial system we have participated in over the past century has to continually grow or die

Several of the major central banks are stuck in a trap of their own making. This includes the US Federal Reserve, the Bank of Japan, the European Central Bank, and others. The credit-based global financial system we have constructed and participated in over the past century has to continually grow or die. It’s like a game of… Read More Lyn Alden: The credit-based global financial system we have participated in over the past century has to continually grow or die

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Millionaires join Davos protests, demanding ‘tax us now’

A group of millionaires have joined protests against the World Economic Forum gathering of the business and political elite in Davos, Switzerland, demanding that governments “tax us now” to tackle the burgeoning gulf between rich and poor.  The unlikely protesters, who describe themselves as “patriotic millionaires”, called on world leaders attending the annual conference on… Read More Millionaires join Davos protests, demanding ‘tax us now’

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Big Oil, Rising Authoritarianism and worsening climate. By Eve Darian-Smith

Around the world, many countries are becoming less democratic. This backsliding on democracy and “creeping authoritarianism,” as the U.S. State Department puts it, is often supported by the same industries that are escalating climate change. In my new book, “Global Burning: Rising Antidemocracy and the Climate Crisis,” I lay out connections between these industries and the… Read More Big Oil, Rising Authoritarianism and worsening climate. By Eve Darian-Smith

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Peter A Smith: How a decades-long boom in licit opioid production was fueled by Tasmanian-grown poppies

Heading into the highlands of Tasmania, some 250 miles south of the Australian mainland, narrow black-topped roads meander through a wide river valley bounded by distant mountain bluffs. Two-track paths splinter off into grassy pastures, past skeletal trees bleached by sun and drought. All along the way, small signs dangle from wire fence lines: Danger Prohibited… Read More Peter A Smith: How a decades-long boom in licit opioid production was fueled by Tasmanian-grown poppies

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Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt: Ukrainian debt, Argentina and IMF, Sri Lanka

According to the IMF, Ukraine’s war-ravaged economy could shrink by up to 35% this year if Russia’s invasion becomes a protracted conflict. This will have serious consequences on the Ukrainian popular classes who are reeling under serious difficulties. At the end of 2021, Ukraine was already burdened with $94 billion in public debt on its… Read More Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt: Ukrainian debt, Argentina and IMF, Sri Lanka

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Lynn Paramore: Our Economic System is Making Us Mentally Ill

If you’re unlucky enough to reside in a town where data centers house computer servers storing everything from financial data for giant corporations to military secrets, you’re likely to find that a loud, whining noise becomes life’s agonizing background. The sound peaks and subsides, but it’s always there, never allowing you to fully relax. Eventually,… Read More Lynn Paramore: Our Economic System is Making Us Mentally Ill

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