Economics & Beyond with Rob Johnson

Fred Block, Research Professor of Sociology at UC Davis and author of The Habitation Society, discusses his vision for an economy that prioritizes community well-being over industrial models. He critiques current economic policies for fostering inequality and stagnation, suggesting a restructured investment in education and public finance. Block explores the implications of corporate influence on vital sectors and advocates for grassroots democracy to empower local communities. He emphasizes the urgent need for reforms to address growing wealth disparities and restore hope in democratic engagement.

Lincoln Mitchell, a Political Science Professor at Columbia University, dives into the corrosive rise of fascism in the U.S. He discusses the MAGA movement's strongman leadership and scapegoating of minorities. Mitchell critiques media normalization of extremist rhetoric and emphasizes economic factors influencing voter behavior. The conversation also touches on the importance of rebuilding democratic norms and the challenges of confronting authoritarianism, while advocating for hope and proactive engagement to combat these trends.

David Sirota joins Rob Johnson to examine the history and impact of money in U.S. politics, as explored in Sirota’s investigative podcast series, "Master Plan." Sirota discusses how a series of judicial rulings and policy changes since the 1970s enabled a system in which the voices of wealthy elites overshadow those of ordinary citizens.

​Author and Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Democracy Collaborative, Marjorie Kelly, talks about her recently released book, Wealth Supremacy: How the Extractive Economy and the Biased Rules of Capitalism Drive Today’s Crises (Berrett-Kohler, September 2023)​​, which also outlines a vision for democratizing the economy so that it serves the broader public good.

Rob Johnson and Steven Herrmann, an author and Jungian analyst, discuss the concept of "spiritual democracy" as explored in Herrmann's work and the writings of American poets like Walt Whitman, Herman Melville, and Emily Dickinson and how their vision might inform a renewal of American democracy.

What happened to the American dream? Rob talks with David Smick about his new film and the inspiration for the project.

Leah Hunt-Hendrix and Astra Taylor discuss solidarity as a key concept in addressing economic inequality, climate change, and democracy. They emphasize collective action, social movements, and the role of education and the arts in fostering community.

Rohinton Medhora (INET's Board Chair, member of our Commission on Global Economic Transformation, and Distinguished Fellow at CIGI) discusses global social healing, India and the G20 with INET President Rob Johnson.

If we're going to address environmental catastrophe, we need to support each other on a global scale. Rob Johnson checks in with Adair Turner about his work, and practical solutions to address the climate crisis.

Economics Nobel laureate Sir Angus Deaton discusses his latest book, Economics in America, which takes an autobiographical approach to how the field of economics addresses the most pressing issues of our time—from poverty, retirement, and the minimum wage to the ravages of the nation’s uniquely disastrous health care system.