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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 monthlyEpisodes237Founded8 years ago
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Latest Episodes

Economic models have treated the labor market like a perfectly competitive system where wages naturally align with worker value. Arin Dube, economics professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and author of “The Wage Standard”, challenges t... more

Most people associate Adam Smith with free markets and “the invisible hand”. But does this conventional narrative purposefully ignore Smith’s deep suspicions about monopolies and power?

Georgetown assistant professor Glory Liu argues this narrow in... more

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

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Recent Guests

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
Jonathan Cohen
Author of Losing Big, American Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling
Episode: Are Betting Apps Engineered for Addiction? - ft. Jonathan Cohen
Dani Rodrik
Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy at Harvard Kennedy School of Government
Harvard Kennedy School
Episode: Can We Build a Middle Class Without Factories? - ft. Dani Rodrik
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

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 States2 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 States4 months ago
  • A other libtard podcast !!!

    Podcast Addict
    1
    Michel Bordeleau
    5 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
    Denmarka year 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
#37
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#60
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#105
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#7
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#35
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#69
Germany/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. The Pie: An Economics Podcast
2. Big Brains
3. Odd Lots
4. Conversations with Tyler
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of Capitalisn't are there?

Capitalisn't launched 8 years ago and published 237 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. Arin Dube
2. Glory Liu
3. Carl Benedict Frey
4. Steve Vladeck
5. Jesse Norman
6. Katharina Pistor
7. Jonathan Cohen
8. Dani Rodrik

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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