Table of Contents

(as of 1.3.2023)

Table of Contents

  • Introduction
    • Central Purpose
    • The Research and Writing Process
    • Approaches to Reading the Book
  • Chapter One – Capitalism Defined
    • What is capitalism? – the economist’s definition – a world disconnected from reality
    • What is capitalism? – our politics’ rhetoric
    • Capitalism defined
    • What is an economy for? – a broader view – our view here
    • The rich and corporations understand how capitalism actually works
    • About Neoliberalism – don’t be confused by this ungainly word
  • Chapter Two – Capitalism – key features
    • Some context
    • The role of the Scientific Revolution
    • Capitalism produces precarity – persistent insecurity
    • The capitalist system is unstable – the self-regulating market system?
    • The capitalist system operates on unequal power relationships.
    • Private property and rent
    • Capitalism tends towards monopoly.
    • Competition – avoided or eliminated wherever possible
    • Capitalism concentrates wealth and income.
    • Anonymous Capitalism
    • Global Capitalism
    • Capitalism controls investment of most financial and other resources.
    • Capitalism features ubiquitous use of “external” costs.
    • Capitalism works on a short investment time horizon.
    • Capitalism does not provide for housing, healthcare, education, and other family needs
    • Capitalism distorts, changes, and creates human demand and consumption.
    • Misapplication of markets
    • Capitalism disaggregates production of goods and services.
    • Money and the Financial Sector
      • How Is Money Created?
      • What is Debt? – the Federal Deficit
      • Modern Money Theory – MMT
      • The Finance Sector
      • What is financialization?
      • Changes in the structure and operation of financial markets
      • Changes in the behavior of nonfinancial corporations
      • Intellectual Property, Patents, Copyrights
      • Unregulated Banks, Private Equity,……..
      • Mass Debt
      • Socializing Private Risk
      • What is a corporation for?
      • Taxes, secrecy, hidden money
    • Globalization
    • Capitalism requires endless growth on a planet with finite resources.
    • Is capitalism a system?
    • Slavery, colonialism, and the use of state power.
  • Chapter Three – How does this compare to American values?
    • My children will be better off than me
    • Hard work pays off – social mobility
    • Everyone is equal
    • Your life is in your own hands – the land of opportunity
    • Participation in decision making – agency
    • Progress
  • Chapter Four – Precarity – How we experience capitalism
    • Types of Precarity
    • Labor Precarity
    • Job security – ability and opportunity to find an occupational niche – opportunities to move up in status and income
    • Housing Precarity
    • Transportation
    • Food Precarity
    • Education Precarity
    • Precarity for Women
    • Health Precarity
    • Precarity of Time
    • Retirement Precarity
    • Family Precarity
    • Mental Health Precarity
    • Is Precarity a Global Phenomenon?
  • Chapter Five – In Conclusion
    • Important take aways
    • Future Paths Froward?
  • Bibliography
  • Index