Thomas Picketty

Capital in the 21st Century

24:47 min
History & Military, Economics & Self-Improvement
685 pages, 2013

In "Capital in the 21st Century," Thomas Piketty examines wealth and inequality across three centuries. This short explores how, despite technological progress and economic growth, the basic structures of capital accumulation have remained largely unchanged. Piketty investigates the concerning trend of wealth concentration, where inherited fortunes grow faster than earned incomes, potentially threatening democratic values and social mobility. Using historical data from 20 countries, this work offers a clear view of how capital, labor, and inheritance shape our economy. Piketty suggests bold solutions, including a global tax on capital, in an effort to create a more equitable future for coming generations.

Thomas Picketty

Thomas Piketty is a prominent French economist and professor at the Paris School of Economics. His research focuses on wealth and income inequality, analyzing historical data to examine long-term trends in wealth distribution. Piketty's work has contributed significantly to economic discussions about the growing concentration of wealth and its effects on society and policy. His findings have fueled debates among economists, policymakers, and the public about the nature of capitalism and potential solutions to economic disparities.

Chapters

Economic growth hasn't fundamentally altered wealth inequality. High capital returns relative to growth rates increase the importance of inherited wealth, potentially undermining democratic values and social mobility in slow-growth economies.
Go to chapter

Cover of Capital in the 21st Century

Similar books

If you liked this book, you'll probably like these books as well.

Cover: The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable

The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable

Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Unlikely events have the most impact precisely because they are unpredictable.

18:45 min

Cover: The Geographical Pivot of History

The Geographical Pivot of History

Sir Halford J. Mackinder

The scepter of power lay in the Heartland.

13:49 min

Cover: The Iliad

The Iliad

Homer

A foundational epic that shaped Western ideals of war, heroism, and the legacy of conflict.

17:30 min

Cover: For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto

For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto

Murray Rothbard

A classic in libertarian thought. Could free markets replace state control and restore human liberty?

19:26 min

Cover: The Odyssey

The Odyssey

Homer

The epic's lasting power lies in transforming mythical adventures into timeless human experiences.

16:15 min

Cover: Das Kapital

Das Kapital

Karl Marx

The backbone of Marxism, a philosophy that's fueled revolutionary movements across continents.

19:03 min

Cover: The Art of War

The Art of War

Sun Tzu

Intelligence and strategy determines victory more than weapons, numbers, or brave soldiers combined.

18:30 min

Cover: Democracy: The God That Failed

Democracy: The God That Failed

Hans-Hermann Hoppe

Democracy is an inherently short-term, high-conflict system destined to fail.

22:02 min

Cover: SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

Mary Beard

Rome's contradictory nature, both liberating and oppressive, built an empire whose legacy endures.

20:12 min

Cover: Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids: Why Being a Great Parent Is Less Work and More Fun Than You Think

Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids: Why Being a Great Parent Is Less Work and More Fun Than You Think

Bryan Caplan

We've been psyopped into believing children cost more and deliver less, sabotaging our own happiness.

19:16 min

Cover: The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West

The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West

Alexander C. Karp

The software century demands purposeful ambition, not just market-driven development.

24:16 min

Cover: In Defense of German Colonialism: And How Its Critics Empowered Nazis, Communists, and the Enemies of the West

In Defense of German Colonialism: And How Its Critics Empowered Nazis, Communists, and the Enemies of the West

Bruce Gilley

Historical prejudice against colonialism rears its ugly head despite anti-colonialism fueling totalitarianism.

23:02 min

Cover: The Sovereign Individual: Mastering the Transition to the Information Age

The Sovereign Individual: Mastering the Transition to the Information Age

James Dale Davidson

Is this the end of the Modern Age? Cyberspace threatens five centuries of state domination.

23:20 min

Cover: Free Trade Doesn't Work

Free Trade Doesn't Work

Ian Fletcher

Few criticize free trade, yet its theoretical foundation crumbles in today's real-world conditions.

20:59 min

Cover: The Vampire Economy: Doing Business Under Fascism

The Vampire Economy: Doing Business Under Fascism

Günter Reimann

Fascism maintains the facade of private enterprise while state control cripples economic output.

20:26 min