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Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff

Democracy at Work, Richard D. Wolff
Capitalism
Socialism
China
United States
Inequality
Trump Administration
Tariffs
Climate Change
Donald Trump
Artificial Intelligence
Economic Inequality
Karl Marx
Housing Crisis
BRICS
Gaza
Elon Musk
Communism
U.S. Economy
Democracy
Labor Movement

Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a weekly nationally syndicated program produced by Democracy at Work and hosted by Richard D. Wolff. The program explores complex economic issues and empowers listeners with information to analyze not only their own financial situation but the economy at large. Beyond focusing a critical eye on the economic dimensions of everyday life - wages, jobs, taxes, ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes570Founded11 years ago
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Latest Episodes

In response to questions about Marx's relevance today, this program explains how Marx's criticism of capitalism was unique (more micro-focused than macro-focused analysis). It shows how Marx's critique of capitalism differs from his critique of slave... more

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On this week's episode of Economic Update, Professor Wolff provides updates on the 3 major teachers' unions struggling with the LA Unified School District, rising electricity costs in the U.S., and corrupt utility commissions, and on the extreme redi... more

YouTube

This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff discusses the 3800 Colorado meatpackers on strike before diving into a presentation on how the war on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted the production and transportation of oil a... more

On this week's episode of Economic Update, Professor Wolff presents updates on European turmoil that include how the French municipal elections are revealing Macron's weaknesses, Germany's opposition of the war on Iran, the UK waffling on Iran and he... more

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Recent Guests

Stephen Bezruchka
Professor of Population Health, University of Washington in Seattle; author
University of Washington
Episode: Born Sick in the USA: Improving The Health of a Nation
Teresa Ghilarducci
Labor economist and retirement security expert
New School University / University of Notre Dame (former)
Episode: The Great U.S. Pension Crisis
Richard RJ Eskow
Writer, journalist, host of The Zero Hour
The Zero Hour; Bernie Sanders campaign experience
Episode: Economic Update: The Reality, Hype, and Danger of A.I.
Tess Fraud Wolff
New York City psychotherapist in private practice
Private practice (New York City)
Episode: The Jeffrey Epstein Class
Ray Madoff
Professor of law at Boston College and author of 'The Second Estate, How the Tax Code Made an American Aristocracy.'
Boston College
Episode: How the U.S. tax System Worsens Inequality
Geo Maher
Writer and community educator with expertise in Venezuelan politics
WEB Du Bois Movement School
Episode: Venezuela: Looking Deeper
Sabrina Salvati
Political commentator, activist, and emerging filmmaker.
SabiSabs Podcast
Episode: Gentrification, Boston, and Racism
Jared Yates-Sexton
Author of The Midnight Kingdom and political advisor for the Change Campaign
Episode: The U.S. As A 'Traumatized' Society
Abby Martin
Journalist and filmmaker focusing on U.S. imperialism and environmental issues.
Episode: The U.S. Military's Role in Ecological Crisis

Host

Richard Wolff
Host of Economic Update; economist and critical analyst of capitalism

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 3k ratings
  • Spittin Truth by Doc Wolff!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    RuminatingStoic
    a month ago
  • Bias

    Our capitalist system gets stronger when natural disasters hit. Think of the tax raised from the overtime to repair workers, the materials ordered from factories (more income tax to those workers), the shelters, emergency food, etc.

    What if we decided to design a more resilient infrastructure that could sustain without the need for repetitive maintenance. We are far behind on the maintenance, raw sewage and water pipes burst or leak across the nation. Destroy the planet, make a dollar.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WilderLead
    United States3 months ago
  • Required Liatening

    This podcast continues to impress. Clear concise and fair presentation of important topics. Don’t miss “understanding capitalism”. It is required reading and should be a part of any exploration of democracy, capitalism, and economics

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BigErkki
    United States5 months ago
  • Fantastic and clear explanations

    I enjoy listening to these wonderful explanations. Very clear and understandable 👍

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    iphonehassle
    United States8 months ago
  • Marxism 101

    This is a great pod, particularly for those new to Marxist Socialism. A strong focus on what can be done here and now as well as excellent interviews with extremely knowledgeable people.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    myowncompass
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Engaging, accessible economics with clear theory-to-current-events links.
Some listeners push back on ideological extremes, preferring broader, balanced analysis.
Listeners praise the host for insightful interviews and clear explanations of complex ideas.
Strong critiques of capitalism resonate with working-class and activist audiences.
Audience highlights the show's value as a resource for understanding economic power dynamics and policy impacts.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#226
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#186
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#241
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#40
Colombia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#87
Netherlands/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#179
New Zealand/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Great U.S. Pension Crisis
Q: What exactly is this pension crisis, and who gets or doesn't get pensions?
The crisis stems from a 40-year drift toward a voluntary, individual-based savings model (like 401(k)s) that has left most workers underprepared for retirement, with about half of middle-class workers at risk of poverty in old age; the top earners have tended to benefit the most from current arrangements, while many ordinary workers have little to nothing saved beyond Social Security.
Economic Update: The Reality, Hype, and Danger of A.I.
Q: Tell us in a nutshell, what is AI that everybody is talking about? What does it do? What can it do? What is it actually doing? Or is it all hype?
Eskow frames AI as a collection of systems that harvest massive data to predict likely responses, emphasizing that much of the power lies in data collection and its use by corporations and governments, rather than true intelligence. He cautions about hype, the potential for job displacement, and the need for public ownership and democratic control to prevent misuse.
The US Housing Crisis Today
Q: What policy steps could leaders take to address these problems in a city like New York?
Rob suggests Housing First strategies, involving people with lived homelessness in planning, and moving from a right to shelter to a right to housing, with a focus on reducing shelter stays and expanding actual housing solutions.
The US Housing Crisis Today
Q: What role does ownership and the investor mentality play in this crisis?
Rob explains that single-family ownership has been transformed into a profit-driven enterprise where investors buy up homes, push up prices, and convert them into rentals, making it unaffordable for more people and converting home ownership into a cycle of debt rather than wealth.
The US Housing Crisis Today
Q: Is there a housing crisis in the United States as we speak?
Rob Robinson confirms there is a persistent housing crisis driven by high costs, rent burdens, and instability, emphasizing that both renters and homeowners face affordability pressures and that housing should be a secure, dignified basic need rather than a financial instrument for profit.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Economic Update

What is Economic Update about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Econ-focused discussions center on capitalism, inequality, and systemic reform, with frequent deep-dives into how economic structures shape everyday life. Across episodes, the host and guests critique traditional economics, immigration and imperialism, and the political economy of policy, often applying Marxian and socialist perspectives to current events. Notable has been the emphasis on worker rights, public finance, and alternative organizing concepts as remedies to entrenched power imbalances, along with accessible explanations of complex theories for a broad audience.

A standout element is the consistent linking of macroeconomic trends to social outcomes, plus a willingness to challenge mainstream narratives. The show also features in... more

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1. Ralph Nader Radio Hour
2. The Chris Hedges Report
3. The Socialist Program with Brian Becker
4. The Intercept Briefing
5. Jacobin Radio

How many episodes of Economic Update are there?

Economic Update launched 11 years ago and published 570 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 Economic Update?

Recent guests on Economic Update include:

1. Stephen Bezruchka
2. Teresa Ghilarducci
3. Richard RJ Eskow
4. Tess Fraud Wolff
5. Ray Madoff
6. Geo Maher
7. Sabrina Salvati
8. Jared Yates-Sexton

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