Free Market Capitalism Erodes Democracy: Mordecai Kurz
October 1st, 2026
”Capitalism should be subjected to democracy.”
We discuss the transformation of free market capitalism into a techno-winner-take-all system. Reaganomics and advances in technology have supercharged the market power of corporations and created immense private power. Both of these have increased economic inequality, which causes political inequality and threatens democracy.
Mordecai Kurz is the Joan Kenney Professor of Economics Emeritus at Stanford University and his most recent book is Private Power and Democracy’s Decline: How to Make Capitalism Support Democracy.
Your civic action toolkit recommendations from Mordecai are:
Be supportive of democratic institutions.
Be willing to listen to opposing points of views without interference.
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Credits:
Host: Mila Atmos
Guest: Mordecai Kurz
Executive Producer: Zack Travis
Executive Editor: Mila Atmos