Feeling like the rich are racing ahead while the rest of us are barely getting by? You're not alone. French economist Thomas Piketty has scoured income and wealth data around the world to a produce a damning picture of inequality today. His instant bestseller, "Capital in the 21st Century" is making so much noise, some are calling it Piketty-mania. The book has garnered enthusiastic reviews, seen predictable attacks from conservatives and sparked debates about what it would take to turn back the meteoric rise of the global 1%.
Join us to learn what Piketty's important book has to say about the rise of inequality today and in Canada in particular. What is r > g and what does it mean? Are we entering another "belle epoque" for the wealthy last seen in the late 19th century? Is a global wealth tax enough or do we need to think beyond capitalism to conquer inequality?
Four local speakers will lead an interactive, educational forum to try to answer these questions and more: Marjorie Griffin-Cohen (SFU Political Science, CCPA Research Associate), Iglika Ivanova (CCPA), Geoff Mann (SFU Geography, CCPA Research Associate) and Michal Rozworski (Ricochet). Bonus points: local author and comic Charles Demers will be MC'ing!
Date: Wednesday, June 25th
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: SFU Harbour Centre – Room 1700
Co-sponsors: Ricochet, CCPA-BC, SFU Institute for the Humanities, The Progressive Economics Forum
No previous knowledge required but by all means read the book if you can! There's also a short helpful summary of the main arguments available here.
Click here to view the Facebook event.
Listen to audio from the event here!