Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer

The Case Against Extreme Wealth (with Ingrid Robeyns)

Apr 23, 2024

Ethics professor Ingrid Robeyns challenges extreme wealth accumulation, advocating for a wealth cap. They discuss the moral and practical implications, promoting middle-out economics and addressing societal impacts of extreme wealth.

45:23

Episode guests

Ingrid Robeyns

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Extreme wealth undermines democracy and ecological sustainability.

Addressing inequality fosters equality of opportunity and economic growth.

Deep dives

Importance of Middle-Out Economics

Middle-out economics stresses the need to build the economy from the middle out and the bottom up, rather than the top down. This approach argues that a thriving middle class is vital for overall economic prosperity and societal well-being, challenging the traditional top-down economic theories.

Introduction

2min

Exploring Limitarianism and Extreme Wealth with a Dutch Scholar

2min

Rethinking Extreme Wealth and Inequality

28min

Exploring the Controversial Concept of Limitarianism in Economics and Philosophy

2min

Redefining Wealth and Status Metrics

9min

Exploring Limits on Extreme Wealth and Shifting Societal Norms

3min

This week, Nick and Goldy sit down with ethics professor Ingrid Robeyns to discuss her groundbreaking new book, Limitarianism: The Case Against Extreme Wealth. Robeyns challenges the idea that it’s acceptable to allow extreme wealth concentration and inequality to persist, advocating instead for a hard cap on wealth accumulation. Nick and Goldy navigate the moral and practical implications of wealth limits on society, democracy, and ecological sustainability.

Ingrid Robeyns is a distinguished scholar and Professor of Ethics of Institutions at Utrecht University, and author of the new book, Limitarianism: The Case Against Extreme Wealth. Professor Robeyns’ research in the field of Ethics and Political Philosophy focuses on issues of justice, inequality, well-being, and the ethical dimensions of societal structures and policies.

Twitter: @IngridRobeyns

Limitarianism: The Case Against Extreme Wealth

Website: http://pitchforkeconomics.com

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