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The Future of Capitalism

Anne McElvoy talks about the future of capitalism with social theorist Jeremy Rifkin, sociologist Saskia Sassen and Tory MP Kwasi Kwarteng.

Anne McElvoy talks to the social theorist Jeremy Rifkin who foresees the gradual decline of capitalism and the rise of a collaborative economy. As new technology enables greater sharing of goods and services, Rifkin argues that it provides a challenge to the market economy. The sociologist Saskia Sassen warns that the majority of people may not enjoy the fruits of this new world as increasing inequality, land evictions and complex financial systems lead to their expulsion from the economy. The Conservative MP Kwasi Kwarteng looks back at the history of international finance and how gold and war have shaped the economic order of today.

Producer: Katy Hickman.

Available now

43 minutes

Last on

Mon 28 Apr 2014 21:30

Jeremy Rifkin

Jeremy Rifkin is an author, an adviser to the European Union and to heads of state around the world and President of the Foundation on Economic Trends in Washington, DC.

The Zero Marginal Cost Society: The Internet of Things, The Collaborative Commons, and The Eclipse of Capitalism is published by Palgrave Macmillan.

Saskia Sassen

Saskia Sassen is Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology and co-chair of the Committee on Global Thought at Columbia University.

Expulsions: Brutality and Complexity in the Global Economy is published by Harvard University Press.

Kwasi Kwarteng

Kwasi Kwarteng is the MP for Spelthorne.

War and Gold: A Five-Hundred-Year History of Empires, Adventures and Debt is published by Bloomsbury.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Anne McElvoy
Interviewed Guest Jeremy Rifkin
Interviewed Guest Saskia Sassen
Interviewed Guest Kwasi Kwarteng
Producer Katy Hickman

Broadcasts

  • Mon 28 Apr 2014 09:00
  • Mon 28 Apr 2014 21:30

Podcast