d@w Inc.

Latest Releases

Economic Update: Economics of Women Voting Trump

| On this week's Economic Update, Prof. Wolff provides updates on Trump gutting estate tax; capitalist outrages; Trump appoints Wall Street billionaires; Green Party victory in Austria; big oil companies' desperation; Pope Francis on... Read more

The Full Participation Economy: The Worker Cooperative as a Bulwark against Social Exclusion [Part IV]

Today's excluded populations, particularly the formerly incarcerated and disadvantaged workers, suffer repeated exclusion from the workplace or exploitation when employed, which only serves to increase recidivism. WSDEs are a viable solution especially since all employees are included in the democratic decision making of the company. Workers also benefit from the... Read more

Capitalism vs. Socialism: A Changed Debate

| This article originally appeared at Truthout.org Once again, private capitalism's contradictions, flaws and weaknesses threaten its own existence. Two major global collapses -- first in the 1930s and more recently, since 2008 -- plus periodic downturns every few years have underscored the instability that haunts the system. At the... Read more

The Gender Agenda: Presidential Election 2016

There was a crucial socio-political message in the radically different gender agendas evident in the 2016 presidential election. Dr. Harriet Fraad breaks down the stark differences between all three of the main actors who were serious final contenders on the presidential stage: Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump. Read more

Economic Update: The Critique of Mass Media

| On this week's Economic Update, Prof. Wolff provides updates on Maggie's Farm, John Lewis coop in UK, Trudeau on Castro, economics of immigration, Deutschland Bank and... Read more

The Full Participation Economy: Viable Models — Looking Abroad and in the US [Part III]

This is Part III of a five-part series on worker-directed cooperatives as an autonomous community self-development tool. Founded in 1956, the Mondragon worker cooperative, located in the Basque region of Spain, now employs over 75,000 people in 257 different businesses. Italy's Emilia Romana region has a high density of WSDEs... Read more

The Full Participation Economy: Social Exclusion [Part II]

This is Part II of a five-part series on worker-directed cooperatives as an autonomous community self-development tool. The wealth disparity between those labeled "the one percent" and the remainder of the population continues to provoke anxiety and anger. At the same time African Americans struggle with an unemployment rate double the... Read more

Do nonprofits need bosses?

The democratic organization of nonprofits is both possible and, in many cases, more desirable for workers. So why is it so uncommon? Read more

The Full Participation Economy: Prison Workers, the American Worker and the Power of Cooperative Work [Part I]

This is Part I of a five-part series on worker-directed cooperatives as an autonomous community self-development tool. American workers and prison laborers are both trapped in oppressive systems, but non-incarcerated workers are increasingly opting out of conventional business structures to become worker-owners in Worker Self Directed Enterprises (WSDEs). Read more

Economic Update: Moving Beyond Capitalism

| On this week's Economic Update, Prof. Wolff provides updates on real corporate taxes, Canada's infrastructure maneuver, economics of real estate, foreign students leaving. Major discussions of... Read more

News & Newsworthy

This section is dedicated to D@W appearances, op-eds and articles by our contributors. D@W is not affiliated directly with these organizations, companies or entities.

The Dr. Economy Show with Prof. Richard Wolff - Episode 234

Prof. Wolff joins the Dr. Economy Show, where he delves into the critical issues of economic inequality and the paradox of vacant homes alongside homelessness. The conversation explores the stark contrast between immense wealth and poverty and highlights the urgent need for profound economic reform. Tune in to gain valuable... Read more

The Socialist Program: U.S. Healthcare Fails Patients But Nurses Fight Back

Professor Richard Wolff and Brian Becker discuss the historic strike of 75,000 Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers. They highlight the workers' concerns over staffing levels and pay, shedding light on issues within the capitalist healthcare system. This strike is part of a wider labor resurgence, with workers pushing back against being... Read more

Dialogue Works: Russia & China Sanctions: EU's Desperate Measures

Professor Wolff discusses the impact of sanctions, focusing on recent ones against Russia, and emphasizing the complexity of sanctions, their varying outcomes, and the challenges of enforcement and monitoring. Sanctions on Russia haven't achieved their goals but have unintentionally harmed the European economy by raising energy prices. These sanctions have... Read more

The Socialist Program: Government to Student Loan Borrowers: Time to Pay Up!

Prof. Wolff and Brian Becker discuss the resumption of student loan repayments in the United States and its broader implications for the economy and society. They analyze how the student debt crisis has evolved over time and how it reflects deeper issues within the capitalist system. Prof. Wolff emphasizes the... Read more

Dangerous Ideas: Richard Wolff & Lee Camp on How to Fix The Economy!

In their discussion, Prof. Wolff and Lee Camp address the significant disparity between officially reported low unemployment rates and the fact that housing costs have become evident as unaffordable for the majority of Americans. The need for an immediate boost in wages and a reduction in housing costs is clear.... Read more

Dialogue Works: The UN's Dysfunction - Belt and Road Forum

Prof. Wolff joins Dialogue Works, delving into the UN's functionality and the obstacles it faces in bringing together superpowers. He highlights the concept of "uneven development" from Karl Marx, explaining how capitalism perpetuates global inequality. The impediments to international treaties and agreements stem from the conflicting interests of unequal nations.... Read more

Dialogue Works: BRICS and the Prospect of a Novel Reserve Currency

Prof. Wolff joins Dialogue Works to discuss the evolving landscape of global reserve currencies, highlighting the historical context and how countries like China, India, Brazil, and others aim to gain recognition for their currencies worldwide as the relative dominance of the United States wanes. The conversation explores lending, international trade,... Read more

The KPFA Evening News – September 24, 2023

Prof. Wolff joins the KPFA Evening News program to address the impending federal government shutdown, emphasizing the necessity of raising taxes on the wealthy to tackle the growing national debt and criticizing both political parties for their reluctance to consider this solution. The discussion also covers the United Auto Workers'... Read more

The Socialist Program: The Politics of the Government Shutdown

Prof. Wolff joins Brian Becker to discuss the looming threat of another government shutdown as the September 30th deadline for passing a federal budget approaches. They highlight the absurdity of this recurring political theater, where both Republicans and Democrats fail to address the root issue: raising taxes on corporations and... Read more

AI: Profit vs. Freedom

Article by Richard D. Wolff "Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a profit opportunity for capitalists, but it presents a crucial choice for the working class. Because the working class is the majority, that crucial choice confronts society as a whole. It is the same profit opportunity/social choice that was presented by... Read more

Essential Reading

Understanding Marxism

If you want to understand capitalism in order to make society better, then understanding Marx’s analysis is fundamental in drawing your attention to capitalist production’s core conflict: class struggle. It is everywhere, and it influences everything and everyone in our society. Marx is the theoretician who first explained it systematically. He was a social critic for whom capitalism signified not the end of human history, but the latest phase that badly needed a transition to something better. Buy Here →

The Sickness is the System

The coronavirus pandemic, economic crash, political divisions, and social tensions have plunged the declining American capitalist system into chaos. In this collection of over 50 unique essays, Prof. Wolff argues that a mere return to normalcy is inadequate to tackle the accumulated problems of US capitalism. Buy Here →

Understanding Socialism

Understanding Socialism tackles the taboos and unveils the often hidden histories of socialism, but most importantly it offers a way forward: a socialism built on democracy in the workplace. A blend of history, analysis and opinion, Understanding Socialism is an honest and approachable text that knocks down false narratives, confronts failures, and offers a path to a new socialism based on workplace democracy. Buy Here →