Richard D. Wolff is a professor of economics who has come on the podcast to discuss current and historical perspectives on the economy, exploring how and why the system we live in generates the economic results we live with.

They discuss the difference between neo-classical economics (a celebration of capitalism as the path to making the most people most happy) and Keynesian economics (capitalism is pretty good, but it occasionally falls apart, and the government needs to fix parts of the system).

Coming from differing political ideologies and business experiences, they talk about what the U.S. economy follows and have a lively debate what would make for an ideal economic model.

Also on the podcast, Chuck and Mark talk about the most recent school shooting and go into the details of who proposed gun-free zones.

They talk about how the mainstream media is reshaping facts about the FISA memo, where the facts are barely discussed. The left keeps pushing accusations, when to many of us, the answers are very clear.

 

About the guest:

Richard D. Wolff is Professor of Economics Emeritus, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He is currently a Visiting Professor in the Graduate Program in International Affairs of the New School University in New York.

Wolff has also taught economics at Yale University, City University of New York, and the University of Paris I (Sorbonne).

His educational background is as follows:

Harvard University, BA Magna cum Laude, 1963

Stanford University, MA Economics, 1964

Yale University, MA History, 1967

Yale University, PhD Economics, 1969

Wolff has published many books and articles, both scholarly and popular. In 2012, he published the books Democracy at Work: A Cure for Capitalism (Haymarket Books) and Contending Economic Theories: Neoclassical, Keynesian, and Marxian, with Stephen Resnick (Cambridge, MA, and London: MIT University Press). In 2016, he published Capitalism's Crisis Deepens (Haymarket Books). He writes regularly for Truthout.org

He is the producer and host of the nationally syndicated radio and TV show (one hour weekly): "Economic Update."

Wolff has been interviewed on The Charlie Rose Show, Up With Chris Hayes, Bill Maher's Real Time, Stuart Varney's FOX Business News, Amy Goodman's Democracy Now!, Al Jazeera English, Thom Hartmann, National Public Radio, Alternative Radio, and many other radio and TV programs in the United States and abroad. The New York Times Magazine named him "America's most prominent Marxist economist."

His work can be accessed at rdwolff.com and www.democracyatwork.info

Wolff lives in New York City with his wife and frequent collaborator, Dr. Harriet Fraad, a practicing mental health counsellor.