Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer Revisiting How Neoliberalism Turned the Work Ethic Against Workers (with Elizabeth Anserson)
Jan 13, 2026
Elizabeth Anderson, a MacArthur Fellow and Professor at the University of Michigan, delves into how neoliberalism has twisted the work ethic against workers. She reveals that the original Puritan work ethic honored productive workers but has been subverted to blame them instead. The discussion covers the impact of industrial capitalism, the loss of meaningful work, and the urgent need for labor reform. Anderson advocates for stronger unions and a rethinking of workplace democracy, urging a shift from individual blame to addressing systemic issues.
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Work Ethic Originally Pro-Worker
- The original Protestant work ethic honored workers and condemned extractive wealth.
- Elizabeth Anderson shows that workers were seen as entitled to fair pay and humane conditions when their labor served human welfare.
Industrial Revolution Split The Ethic
- The Industrial Revolution split owners and workers, producing competing work ethic narratives.
- Neoliberalism advanced the owner-friendly version that justifies extraction and drudgery for workers.
Doctor Frustrated By Billing-Driven Bureaucracy
- Elizabeth Anderson recounts her husband's experience in healthcare bureaucracy that undermines meaningful work.
- He loves patient care but endures upcoding prompts and mandatory seminars that prioritize billing over care.
