Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson's bestselling new book Abundance has kicked off a new political movement -- and a vigorous internal debate on the future of the Democratic Party. Many of the policy ideas behind Abundance were developed at the Niskanen Center, recently described in The Atlantic as "the closest thing to an institutional home for the abundance agenda." On this episode of The Permanent Problem podcast, host Brink Lindsey welcomes Steve Teles, a political scientist at the Johns Hopkins University and a senior fellow at Niskanen, to discuss the prehistory, present, and future of the abundance movement. They review the intellectual backstory of the movement, explain how abundance ideas transcend the traditional left-right divide, dig into the current infighting among Democrats, and look forward to possibilities for an abundance faction on the right.

Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson's bestselling new book Abundance has kicked off a new political movement -- and a vigorous internal debate on the future of the Democratic Party. Many of the policy ideas behind Abundance were developed at the Niskanen Center, recently described in The Atlantic as "the closest thing to an institutional home for the abundance agenda." On this episode of The Permanent Problem podcast, host Brink Lindsey welcomes Steve Teles, a political scientist at the Johns Hopkins University and a senior fellow at Niskanen, to discuss the prehistory, present, and future of the abundance movement. They review the intellectual backstory of the movement, explain how abundance ideas transcend the traditional left-right divide, dig into the current infighting among Democrats, and look forward to possibilities for an abundance faction on the right.

Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson's bestselling new book&nbsp;Abundance&nbsp;has kicked off a new political movement -- and a vigorous internal debate on the future of the Democratic Party. Many of the policy ideas behind&nbsp;Abundance&nbsp;were developed at the Niskanen Center, recently described in&nbsp;The Atlantic&nbsp;as "the closest thing to an institutional home for the abundance agenda." On this episode of The Permanent Problem podcast, host Brink Lindsey welcomes Steve Teles, a political scientist at the Johns Hopkins University and a senior fellow at Niskanen, to discuss the prehistory, present, and future of the abundance movement. They review the intellectual backstory of the movement, explain how abundance ideas transcend the traditional left-right divide, dig into the current infighting among Democrats, and look forward to possibilities for an abundance faction on the right.

The prehistory, present, and future of abundance, with Steve Teles

In dozens of provocative essays published on his Substack and cross-posted here, Brink Lindsey has explored what John Maynard Keynes called humanity’s “permanent problem:” the quest to “live wisely and agreeably and well” with the vast resources and powers that capitalist prosperity has bestowed upon us. That quest, unfortunately, has gone awry in the 21st century.

In Lindsey’s analysis, capitalism is now experiencing a “triple crisis”: a crisis of dynamism, as economic and technological progress had slowed; a crisis of inclusion, as a deep new class divide has opened up along educational lines; and a crisis of politics, our best hope for addressing the other two crises, as the values, norms, and institutions of liberal democracy are now embattled around the world.

Beginning in January 2024, Lindsey started the Permanent Problem podcast to supplement his ongoing essay series. The podcast focuses on capitalism’s triple crisis – and especially on the prospects for defusing the crisis and revitalizing social progress.

Brink Lindsey, the podcast host, is a senior vice president at the Niskanen Center. You can access his essays on “The Permanent Problem” on his Substack and here.

You can find all episodes of the podcast on his Substack, here, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

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In dozens of provocative essays published on his Substack and cross-posted here, Brink Lindsey has explored what John Maynard Keynes called humanity’s “permanent problem:” the quest to “live wisely and agreeably and well” with the vast resources and powers that capitalist prosperity has bestowed upon us. That quest, unfortunately, has gone awry in the 21st century. In Lindsey’s analysis, capitalism is now experiencing a “triple crisis”: a crisis of dynamism, as economic and technological progress had slowed; a crisis of inclusion, as a deep new class divide has opened up along educational lines; and a crisis of politics, our best hope for addressing the other two crises, as the values, norms, and institutions of liberal democracy are now embattled around the world. Beginning in January 2024, Lindsey started the Permanent Problem podcast to supplement his ongoing essay series. The podcast focuses on capitalism’s triple crisis – and especially on the prospects for defusing the crisis and revitalizing social progress. Brink Lindsey, the podcast host, is a senior vice president at the Niskanen Center. You can access his essays on “The Permanent Problem” on his Substack and here. You can find all episodes of the podcast on his Substack, here, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

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The prehistory, present, and future of abundance, with Steve Teles

The prehistory, present, and future of abundance, with Steve Teles

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