#740 Tibor Rutar - Capitalism for Realists: Virtues and Vices of the Modern Economy
RECORDED ON JANUARY 25th 2023.
Dr. Tibor Rutar is Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Maribor, Slovenia, Researcher at the Center for the Study of Post-Socialist Societies in Maribor, and Researcher at the Research Center for Strategy and Governance at the University of Ljubljana. His scholarly work is currently focused on political, economic and historical sociology, particularly longstanding social issues related to democracy and capitalism. His lastest book is Capitalism for Realists: Virtues and Vices of the Modern Economy (Routledge, 2022).
In this episode, we focus on Capitalism for Realists. We start by defining capitalism, and talk about people’s current views on capitalism and socialism. We discuss what Marx got wrong about capitalism, Marxist and libertarian perspectives, and Dr. Rutar’s approach. We talk about different explanations for the origins of capitalism, from Weber, Henrich, and Mokyr; an alternative explanation for its development in 15th and 16th-century England; and we also address explanations based on cultural superiority. We get into topics like market exploitation and the minimum wage; the relationship between capitalism and poverty; economic inequality; the term “neoliberalism”; and claims about the moral effects of markets. Finally, we talk about climate change, and discuss if it is caused by capitalism.
Time Links:
Intro
Defining capitalism
People’s views on capitalism and socialism
What did Marx get wrong about capitalism?
Marxist and libertarian perspectives, and Dr. Rutar’s approach
The origins of capitalism: Weber’s, Henrich’s, and Mokyr’s explanations
An alternative explanation for the development of capitalism in 15th and 16th-century England
Explanations based on cultural superiority
Market exploitation and the minimum wage
The relationship between capitalism and poverty
Economic inequality: is it on the rise? What drives it? What are its effects?
“Neoliberalism”: what does it mean? Is it a useful concept?
Morals of the market
Climate change: did capitalism cause it? Can it ease its effects?
A final observation
Follow Dr. Rutar’s work!
Follow Dr. Rutar’s work:
University page (Ljubljana): http://bit.ly/3J5XZj6
Center for the Study of Post-Socialist Societies page: http://bit.ly/3Ws4S18
ResearchGate profile: https://bit.ly/3Wthd52
Capitalism for Realists: https://bit.ly/3XK5ZKD