First published 2017
Thomas Piketty's Capital in the Twenty-First Century sold millions of copies and ignited worldwide discussions about wealth inequality. Bradford DeLong assembles prominent economists and social scientists to engage directly with Piketty's landmark work. Nobel Prize winners Paul Krugman and Robert Solow contribute their published assessments. Translator Arthur Goldhammer analyzes why the book achieved such widespread impact. Suresh Naidu challenges Piketty's treatment of power dynamics, slavery, and the nature of capital itself. Laura Tyson and Michael Spence investigate how technology contributes to growing inequality. Heather Boushey and Branko Milanovic examine gender factors and patterns in the global South. Emmanuel Saez outlines future research paths for inequality scholarship. Contributors evaluate what Piketty's work means for social science more broadly. Piketty concludes by addressing each criticism, supporting his methodology while recognizing limitations in his research. This collection offers readers both rigorous critique and Piketty's thoughtful responses.
Genres: political-science, economics, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: academic-work, critique, response
Period: 21st-century
640 pages · Paperback · Harvard University Press