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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes574Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsGovernmentPolitics

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Latest Episodes

On this week's episode of Economic Update, Professor delivers updates on why and how worker co-ops are a strategic direction for socialism, and Europe's deindustrialization. The second half features an interview with Anne McGrew and Will Chaney about... more

This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff briefly discusses two current large strikes by workers fighting back: the British Columbia nurses in Canada and the commuter rail workers in New York (LIRR). The rest of today's episode is an analysis of ... more

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This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff delivers updates on the tentative agreement reached by the unionized portion (85%) of the staff at the Los Angeles Unified School District (400,000 students, 83,300 workers), the three separate labor unio... more

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The d@w Team Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a DemocracyatWork.info Inc. production. We make it a point to provide the show free of ads and rely on viewer support to continue doing so. You can support our work by joining our Patreon communit... more

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Recent Guests

Harriet Fraad
Mental health counselor and hypnotherapist, host of Capitalism Hits Home
Harriet Fraad/Capitalism Hits Home
Episode: Economic Update: The Global "Birth Strike" Changes Everything
Chris Hedges
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist, longtime foreign correspondent for the New York Times
Independent journalist
Episode: Causes & Consequences of the Iran War
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

Host

Richard D. Wolff
Host and primary economist commentator focused on structural critiques of capitalism; often conducts interviews and hosts the program.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 3k ratings
  • Great podcast. But they've gone video and i cant listen while i work without having my screen on.

    Podcast Addict
    3
    booger mcsugar
    14 days ago
  • My favorite

    Professor Wolff is one of my absolute favorite people. He explains complex concepts so well. He is also humble and personable and trustworthy. So glad he’s out here educating us.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Acyl
    United Statesa month ago
  • Spittin Truth by Doc Wolff!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    RuminatingStoic
    2 months 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 States4 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 States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests and host are often seen as credible and thought-provoking, with strong views that invite debate.
Some listeners feel the analysis is ideologically biased, though still valuable for alternative perspectives.
Listeners praise clarity and accessibility of economic concepts.
Audience appreciates rigorous critique of capitalism and actionable policy discussions.
Episodes on housing, pensions, and anti-war policy receive frequent engagement.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#186
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#209
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#207
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#234
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#46
Indonesia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#67
Philippines/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Economic Update: The Global "Birth Strike" Changes Everything
Q: How might socialism handle AI differently from capitalism, according to your analysis?
The guest argues socialism would integrate AI to expand and shorten the workday rather than simply boost profits, sharing productivity gains with workers and reducing working hours, thereby using technology to liberate labor rather than to concentrate power and wealth.
Economic Update: The Global "Birth Strike" Changes Everything
Q: What is this birth strike and how long has it been going on?
Dr. Fraad explains it as a long-running, global shift where two-income households and lack of robust family supports force people to delay or forgo having children; she notes it's widespread except in sub-Saharan Africa and argues policy differences—like childcare, parental leave, and wage supports—shape its intensity.
Causes & Consequences of the Iran War
Q: Okay, I want to ask you the bigger, if not the biggest question I can think of. I've been watching your programs, the war in Iran that has occupied many of them. How did the United States, its history, its economics, its culture shape this situation since World War II?
The host and guest discuss a long arc of intervention and destabilization, suggesting a pattern of imperial overreach and the failure to learn from past mistakes, which has culminated in a crisis that threatens global economic stability and regional security.
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.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Economic Update

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

A provocative, economics-focused show that interrogates capitalism and how macro forces shape daily life. Episodes repeatedly connect wage stagnation, unemployment, health outcomes, housing, and public policy to systemic structures, while proposing democratic or cooperative alternatives to traditional corporate ownership. Notable strengths include a steady stream of expert guests and a willingness to challenge mainstream narratives, making it useful for listeners who want clear, critical analysis of policy, markets, and power dynamics. The program often blends theory with current events, labor struggles, and historical context to frame actionable ideas for workers, policymakers, and allies.

A standout aspect is the ongoing emphasis on demo... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Economic Update?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Economic Update:

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

How many episodes of Economic Update are there?

Economic Update launched 11 years ago and published 574 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. Harriet Fraad
2. Chris Hedges
3. Stephen Bezruchka
4. Teresa Ghilarducci
5. Richard RJ Eskow
6. Tess Fraud Wolff
7. Ray Madoff
8. Geo Maher

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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