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Is capitalism the engine of destruction or the engine of prosperity? On this podcast we talk about the ways capitalism is—or more often isn’t—working in our world today. Hosted by author and journalist Bethany McLean and world renowned economist Luigi Zingales, we explain how capitalism can go wrong, and what we can do to fix it. Cover photo attributions: www.chicagobooth.edu/research/stig... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes235Founded8 years ago
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Artwork for Capitalisn't

Latest Episodes

We tend to view technological advancement as an unstoppable force that naturally improves our living standards over time. From the printing press to the internet, modern society assumes that groundbreaking ideas will always find their way into the ma... more

For decades, Americans viewed the Supreme Court as an impartial referee standing above the political fray. However, public trust in this vital institution has recently plummeted to historic lows. Many observers blame a surge in ideological rulings th... more

As we approach the 250th anniversary of Adam Smith's “Wealth of Nations" this March, his theories on competition and the invisible hand remain part of the bedrock of modern economics. But, have we undermined those theories in our economy today?

Wide... more

If we want to understand why capitalism feels broken, do we need to stop looking at the economy and start looking at the legal code that underpins it?

In our system, capital is often described as money, machinery, or raw materials. But Columbia Law ... more

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Recent Guests

Steve Vladeck
Law professor at Georgetown University, nationally recognized expert on the Supreme Court
Georgetown University
Episode: The Hidden Economic Dangers Of Supreme Court Overreach - ft. Steve Vladeck
Jesse Norman
Member of the British Parliament and author of 'Adam Smith, Father of Economics'
British Parliament
Episode: Adam Smith In The Age of The “Epstein Class” - ft. MP Jesse Norman
Katharina Pistor
Columbia Law Professor
Columbia University
Episode: How Inequality Distorts the Law - ft. Katharina Pistor
Jonathan Cohen
Author of Losing Big, American Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling
Episode: Are Betting Apps Engineered for Addiction? - ft. Jonathan Cohen
Sir Paul Tucker
Former Vice President of the Bank of England and author of 'Unelected Power'
Episode: Who Should The Fed Answer To? - ft. Sir Paul Tucker
Ray Madoff
Tax law professor at Boston College and author of "The Second Estate"
Boston College
Episode: How To Fix The American Tax System - ft. Ray Madoff
Sven Beckert
Founder of Harvard's program on the study of capitalism and Pulitzer finalist for his book, Empire of Cotton.
Harvard University
Episode: How Capitalism Became Global ft. Sven Beckert
Cory Doctorow
Accomplished science fiction novelist, journalist, and technology activist
Special advisor to the Electronic Frontier Foundation
Episode: How to Stop “Ensh*ttification” Before It Kills the Internet - ft. Cory Doctorow
Matthew Yglesias
Co-founder of Vox, columnist at Bloomberg, and author of One Billion Americans
Bloomberg
Episode: Why Matthew Yglesias Is Skeptical Of Anti-Monopoly Policies

Hosts

Bethany McLean
Co-host of Capitalisnt; investigative journalist and author focused on capitalism and corporate power
Luigi Zingales
Host of Capitalisnt; economist specializing in corporate power, markets, and policy

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Shareholder capitalism versus stakeholder capitalism~ continued

    The federal trade commission act addresses Monopoly.

    Congress needs to re-draft the FTC act and the FTC J, which implement the reg’s need to draft new rules and regulations.

    As a lawyer for these big monopolistic corporation I don’t write the law that’s the legislative branch.

    I have to take the facts apply them to the laws and regulations as written, advise my clients and draft the contracts accordingly.

    The antitrust law exam for my LLM at NYU earned an A+++ in the 1970s. Today th... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Lee Esq
    United Statesa month ago
  • Why wouldn't anyone listen to this?

    This show is just two clueless people making one illogical argument after another. How did these people graduate college? Why would anyone listen to this?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ________________uh
    United States3 months ago
  • A other libtard podcast !!!

    Podcast Addict
    1
    Michel Bordeleau
    4 months ago
  • A must-listen show for today’s times

    Issues around corporate power and democracy are at the center stage of today’s world.

    This show does an amazing job discussing the key topics at the intersection, always with excellent guests, and the hosts are funny and very insightful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PHL132l
    United States10 months ago
  • Significance served in dialogue format

    Zingales and McLean adds their unique combined perspective to matters of strategic significance. A must-hear for decision makers with personal involvement in their businesses, humanizes topics, methods, models. Makes you a better leader and participant, whether you agree or not.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    A_Andersen
    Denmark10 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Strong guest lineups spanning economics, law, and policy.
High-quality analysis with practical takeaways for business leaders and policymakers.
Thoughtful, data-driven discussions that connect capitalism to real-world outcomes.
Some listeners find the perspectives polarizing or biased toward reformist positions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#33
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#21
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#27
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#2
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#12
Germany/Government
Apple Podcasts
#61
Australia/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Adam Smith In The Age of The “Epstein Class” - ft. MP Jesse Norman
Q: How can we build institutions that can monitor the influence of the powerful?
We need legal structures and enforcement to create transparency and public accountability, coupled with the moral outrage against unethical behavior.
Adam Smith In The Age of The “Epstein Class” - ft. MP Jesse Norman
Q: What is chronic capitalism according to Adam Smith?
Chronic capitalism refers to situations where business success diverges from business merit, often due to insider collusion and lack of effective competition.
Adam Smith In The Age of The “Epstein Class” - ft. MP Jesse Norman
Q: What would Adam Smith think about today's capitalism?
Adam Smith would likely appreciate the functioning product markets providing prosperity but would be mortified by trade shenanigans and oligopolistic tendencies.
How Inequality Distorts the Law - ft. Katharina Pistor
Q: In your book, you talk about democratizing private law, but then you express skepticism towards democracy.
I acknowledge the current political moment makes major legislative programs unlikely, so I suggest organizing within private law proactively.
How Inequality Distorts the Law - ft. Katharina Pistor
Q: So when you say the capitalists have done this, I want to break down a little bit what that means.
The practices developed for exclusive owners of land have been applied to code other assets as capital over time.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Capitalisn't

What is Capitalisn't about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show consistently explores how capitalism distributes power, wealth, and opportunity, often challenging orthodox narratives about markets and policy. Across recent episodes, topics include crony capitalism, the legality of private wealth, the social harms and reforms around taxation, antitrust and regulation, and the global history and future of capitalist systems. Guests range from politicians and law professors to economists and tech thinkers, yielding conversations that probe how institutions shape incentives, accountability, and public value. A standout angle is tying historical ideas (Adam Smith and political economy) to contemporary concerns (inequality, platform power, and policy reform), often with a sharp eye on practical impli... more

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1. Odd Lots
2. EconTalk
3. Conversations with Tyler
4. The Economics Show
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How many episodes of Capitalisn't are there?

Capitalisn't launched 8 years ago and published 235 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Capitalisn't?

Recent guests on Capitalisn't include:

1. Steve Vladeck
2. Jesse Norman
3. Katharina Pistor
4. Jonathan Cohen
5. Sir Paul Tucker
6. Ray Madoff
7. Sven Beckert
8. Cory Doctorow

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