Douglas Lock – ‘Capitalism and Inequality ‘ (Thomas Piketty’s ‘Capital in the 21st Century’)

In this talk, Douglas Lock will be presenting key ideas from economist Thomas Piketty’s surprise bestseller, ‘Capital in the Twenty-First Century’.

Piketty’s central claim is that inequality in the world’s most advanced capitalist countries is increasing and has been for at least 30 years. He also demolishes the persistent myth that we’re living in a meritocracy in which great wealth is earned and deserved, and he claims growing inequality makes democracy unsustainable.

Hailed by many progressives as an economic messiah, Piketty’s ambitious goal is to change the way wealth is distributed. Among his controversial proposals are an 80 percent tax rate on the very highest earners, not to raise money for education or welfare, as he does not expect such a tax to bring in much revenue, but simply ‘to put an end to such extreme incomes’.

Come along to hear Douglas explain the economic ideas that have taken the world by storm, and made Piketty an international celebrity.

For more information on Piketty and his ideas, watch Thomas Piketty on TED (20 minutes)

Dorset Humanists are a non-religious group of Humanists and Atheists who meet at least once a month in Bournemouth, Dorset, England.