Rephonic
Artwork for Capitalisn't
Capitalism
Artificial Intelligence
Social Media
Economics
Education
Regulation
Immigration
Federal Reserve
Trump Administration
Poverty
Wall Street
Economic Mobility
Department Of Government Efficiency
En-Shitification
Private Equity
Democracy
Behavioral Economics
Big Tech
Interest Rates
Influencer Industry

We investigate how capitalism is—or more often isn’t—working in our world today. Hosted by economist Luigi Zingales and business journalist Bethany McLean, our podcast explains why capitalism can go wrong and what we can do to fix it. Send us your questions or comments by emailing capitalisntpod@gmail.com Cover photo attributions: www.chicagobooth.edu/research/stigler/about/capitalisnt.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes243Founded8 years ago
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GovernmentBusiness

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Artwork for Capitalisn't

Latest Episodes

Corporations are people in the eyes of the law. But how did that happen, and why does it hand them rights you don't have?

UCLA law professor Adam Winkler, author of "We the Corporations", traces a 200-year campaign by business to win the constitutio... more

How does a free, decentralized, volunteer-run encyclopedia produce something more trusted than nearly any for-profit institution?

Luigi Zingales and Bethany McLean sit down with Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales to explore how the platform organizes ... more

Are stagnant wages the hidden price tag of a broken healthcare system? On this week's Capitalisn't, Yale health economist Zack Cooper tells Bethany McLean and Luigi Zingales that the U.S. healthcare market is failing because of structural flaws like ... more

For the better part of the 20th century, the American economy relied on the steady social peace of "Fordism"—an era of mass production and consumption that helped reconcile capitalism with democracy. Today, a radical new paradigm threatens to upend t... more

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Recent Guests

Zack Cooper
Associate Professor of Public Health and Economics at Yale
Yale University
Episode: Is Healthcare Making Capitalism Sick? - ft. Zack Cooper
Quinn Slobodian
Professor of international history at Boston University; co-author involved in discussion of Muskism
Boston University
Episode: How “Muskism” Is Changing American Capitalism - ft. Quinn Slobodian
Steve Kaplan
Neubauer Family Distinguished Service Professor of Entrepreneurship and Finance, University of Chicago; founder of the New Venture Challenge
University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Episode: Is Capitalism Delivering For The Majority? - ft. Steve Kaplan
Arin Dube
Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst; author of The Wage Standard
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Episode: The Real Cause Of Wage Stagnation - ft. Arin Dube
Glory Liu
Georgetown University assistant professor
Georgetown University
Episode: Is Everyone Getting Adam Smith Wrong? - ft. Glory Liu
Carl Benedict Frey
Author of How Progress Ends
Oxford Martin School / University of Oxford (as inferred from book focus)
Episode: Why Human Progress Is Not Inevitable - ft. Carl Frey
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

Hosts

Bethany McLean
Co-host with a background in journalism and finance commentary; linked with Capitalisn't and related university/press affiliations.
Luigi Zingales
Co-host with economics background; noted author and professor contributing market and policy perspectives.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Insightful thinking--thank you!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Janis
    a month ago
  • 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 States4 months 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 States6 months ago
  • A other libtard podcast !!!

    Podcast Addict
    1
    Michel Bordeleau
    7 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 Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

The hosts' banter and ability to connect theory with real-world implications keeps complex topics engaging.
Guests are high-caliber experts offering rigorous, evidence-based insights.
The show consistently delivers nuanced, data-driven analyses that challenge conventional wisdom.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#25
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#17
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#40
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#13
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#47
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#56
Germany/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is Healthcare Making Capitalism Sick? - ft. Zack Cooper
Q: Can you explain to our listeners why the skin substitute policy change happened and what it teaches about regulated prices?
Medicare set a market-like rate but doctors' fees were tied to whatever price they used, which encouraged doctors to push the expensive substitutes. Once policy changes were made to adjust that, spending swung dramatically, illustrating how policy design and price schedules can create large, unintended cost shifts.
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.

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?

A data-driven economics-focused show that probes how capitalism operates in today's world, often through the lens of policy, institutions, and power. Episodes frequently feature leading scholars, policymakers, and business thinkers debating topics like healthcare markets, wage dynamics, regulation, technology's impact on society, the role of central banks, tax systems, and the global history of capitalism. Notable strengths include rigorous analysis from prominent academics and practitioners, a willingness to challenge orthodoxies, and a consistent emphasis on practical reforms that could realign incentives in markets and institutions. The format tends to blend empirical evidence with accessible storytelling, and guests span economics, law,... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Capitalisn't?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Capitalisn't:

1. The Pie: An Economics Podcast
2. Big Brains
3. Conversations with Tyler
4. Odd Lots
5. Macro Musings with David Beckworth

How many episodes of Capitalisn't are there?

Capitalisn't launched 8 years ago and published 243 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. Zack Cooper
2. Quinn Slobodian
3. Steve Kaplan
4. Arin Dube
5. Glory Liu
6. Carl Benedict Frey
7. Steve Vladeck
8. Jesse Norman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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