An article in the New York Times from early 2025 suggests that the political influence of mainstream economics is declining. While economists have been highly influential in supporting and shaping free-market policies in recent decades, their expertise has become less relevant during intensified economic crises that necessitate state interventions.

Why has heterodox economics not been more successful in making inroads into the mainstream? And why has “pluralist economics,” the most prominent alternative paradigm to mainstream economics, not been more successful in changing the curriculum?

The global economic and political order is undergoing rapid and profound transformation. We are witnessing a far-reaching "organic" crisis of the global economic world order, which may have started with the financial crisis of 2007/2008 but now enters a new, much more dynamic phase.

Alle sprechen über die Schuldenbremse. Lasst uns endlich über Gender Budgeting reden! Die Kolumne „Gastwirtschaft“ Lina Andres, erschienen in der Frankfurter Rundschau.

Natürlich sollen Ökonomen sich an politischen Debatten beteiligen, aber sie sollten sich auch der Grenzen ihrer Expertise bewusst sein, argumentiert Bjarne Duckert in der Kolumne „Gastwirtschaft“ der FR.

The Invisible Hand offers a radical departure from the conventional wisdom of economists and economic historians, by showing that "factor markets" and the economies dominated by them - the market economies - are not modern, but have existed at various times in the past.

Maria Kader provides an overview of the ECB's crisis policies in recent years. She outlines the measures taken, their effects, and their shortcomings.

Die Lernplatform der Rosa-Luxemburg Stiftung bietet einen leichten Zugang zu Themen wie Schulden, Care-Arbeit, Keynesianische oder Marxistische Ökonomik.

Nicole Mayer-Ahuja bilanziert zehn Jahre Mindestlohn und zeigt, was der gesetzliche Mindestlohn tatsächlich verändert hat, wo die Grenzen seiner Wirkung liegen – und warum die politische Arbeit noch lange nicht abgeschlossen ist.

In the book 'Decolonizing Economics: An Introduction' Dutt, Alves, Kesar, and Kvangraven uncover the deeply Eurocentric foundations that shape how economists study the world today.

The textbook 'Principles of Complexity Economics' by Michael Roos serves as an introduction to the rising field of complexity economics, providing a comprehensive and systematic overview of the concepts and methods of complexity economics and their applications to economic issues.

Der Podcast-Wegweiser sammelt die wichtigsten und hochwertigsten Econ-Podcasts jenseits des Mainstreams und ordnet diese ein.

Valeria Bruschi zeigt aus marxistischer Perspektive, dass Wachstum im Kapitalismus keine Option, sondern eine systembedingte Notwendigkeit zur Profitmaximierung ist - mit der Folge einer zunehmenden Naturzerstörung und sozialer Ungleichheit.

Der Film "Sold City" geht an den Schauplätzen Berlin, London, Hamburg, München, Basel und Wien den Fragen nach, wie die Menschen den Immobilienboom erleben, woher Preissteigerungen kommen und welche Möglichkeiten und Alternativen es gibt, sich ihrer zu erwehren.

Mit einer Datenreise durch die Geschichte der Vermögensungleichheit in Deutschland seit 1949 zeigt AWO auf, wie und wann sich Ungleichheit verschärft hat.

The study gives an overview of approaches, concepts and examples regarding the socio-ecological transformation.

This paper presents an inquiry into the observed results when governments have implemented one or other type of (opposed) economic policy prescribed in economics to reverse the consequences of a global economic crisis.

Der Text behandelt das Thema staatlicher Preiskontrollen als wirtschaftspolitisches Instrument gegen Inflation, insbesondere im Interesse einkommensschwacher Haushalte.

What narratives are underrepresented in the history of economic thought? How do economists account for freedom, justice, and democracy in non-Western cultures?

The article addresses the current debate on democratic economic planning and the question of how and by which instruments a post-capitalist planning system, embedded in a broader agenda of macroeconomic transformation, can be developed.

For a long time, price controls were considered taboo, as neoliberal economic theory assumes that prices are supposedly formed freely by supply and demand. But especially in times of crisis, the state must intervene and cap prices to protect wage earners from excessive burdens. However, the how matters.

This paper offers an in-depth elaboration of Steven Fazzari's journey in academia within the context of the United States of America.

The main goal of this website is to provide freely accessible resources on heterodox economics and examples of how it can be applied in Uganda’s context—and by extension, sub-Saharan Africa and the global South in general.

Es wäre möglich, einen guten Lebensstandard für eine wachsende Bevölkerung mit einem sehr viel geringeren Ressourcenverbrauch zu erzielen. Dafür müssen allerdings Ungleichheiten deutlich reduziert werden – was alles andere als trivial ist. Ein Beitrag von Fridolin Krausmann.

An article in the New York Times from early 2025 suggests that the political influence of mainstream economics is declining. While economists have been highly influential in supporting and shaping free-market policies in recent decades, their expertise has become less relevant during intensified economic crises that necessitate state interventions.

Why has heterodox economics not been more successful in making inroads into the mainstream? And why has “pluralist economics,” the most prominent alternative paradigm to mainstream economics, not been more successful in changing the curriculum?

The global economic and political order is undergoing rapid and profound transformation. We are witnessing a far-reaching "organic" crisis of the global economic world order, which may have started with the financial crisis of 2007/2008 but now enters a new, much more dynamic phase.

Maria Kader provides an overview of the ECB's crisis policies in recent years. She outlines the measures taken, their effects, and their shortcomings.

Der Podcast-Wegweiser sammelt die wichtigsten und hochwertigsten Econ-Podcasts jenseits des Mainstreams und ordnet diese ein.

The article addresses the current debate on democratic economic planning and the question of how and by which instruments a post-capitalist planning system, embedded in a broader agenda of macroeconomic transformation, can be developed.

For a long time, price controls were considered taboo, as neoliberal economic theory assumes that prices are supposedly formed freely by supply and demand. But especially in times of crisis, the state must intervene and cap prices to protect wage earners from excessive burdens. However, the how matters.

Die deutsche Autoindustrie steckt in einer Krise. Dieses Dossier sammelt Materialien, die sich mit der Ursache der aktuellen Krise der Autoindustrie und den Schwächen der bisherigen Lösungsansätze beschäftigen und adressieren, wie eine soziale und klimagerechte Konversion der Autoindustrie aussehen kann.

Extractivism is a development model based on exploiting and exporting raw materials. It is fundamental to reproducing entire societies, mainly in the Global South, while generating manifold dilemmas. This text situates extractivism within the broader landscape of global economic asymmetries, emphasizing the role of rents—excess revenues generated from resource extraction due to international price differentials—as a central analytical lens.

Ein Blick auf die marxistische Staatstheorie lohnt sich, um die Möglichkeiten und Grenzen staatlicher Politik besser zu verstehen. Moritz Zeiler präsentiert drei Ansätze der marxistischen Staatstheorie, die in das Thema einführen und als Appetitanreger für weitere Lektüre, Debatte und Theorieaneignung dienen sollen.

This introductory text explores the political economy of water by defining the subject and examining its key issues.

In dem Text gibt Maria Kader einen Überblick über die Krisenpolitik der EZB in den Krisen der vergangenen Jahre. Sie stellt die ergriffenen Maßnahmen, ihre Wirkungen und ihre Schatteseiten vor.

In this text, Fred Heussner takes up the debate on anti-fascist economics, places it in the context of existing developments and identifies potential for further development.

Usually, Critical Theory and Economics are, for better or worse, no longer seen to be in a continuum. This article by Lukas Meisner serves as an introduction to Critical Theory for all (heterodox) economists, who want to understand and explain what they can, otherwise, just state and describe.

Am 06. November 2024 zerbrach die deutsche Bundesregierung an der Schuldenbremse und der Frage nach Zukunftsinvestitionen. Hinter der wirtschaftspolitischen Auseinandersetzung steckt eine tiefe Krise des exportabhängigen deutschen Wachstumsmodells, analysiert der Politökonom Max Hauser.

Wie könnte eine ganzheitliche Theorie des Kapitalismus aussehen? Diese Einführung in die Social Reproduction Theory (SRT) kann helfen, die Verwobenheit von Produktionsverhältnissen und Unterdrückungsmechanismen im Kapitalismus zu analysieren und zu verstehen.

Der Text "Antifaschistische Ökonomik? Na, klar! Aber was heißt das?" greift die Debatte zur antifaschistischen Ökonomik auf, ordnet sie in bestehende Entwicklungen ein und benennt Entwicklungspotentiale für die Diskussion.

Fabian Georgi analyses how migration and borders are connected to capitalism.

In parallel to rising inflation numbers, the concept of profit inflation has clearly risen to prominence in recent years. But what is it exactly? This dossier aims not only to collect the most important publications on profit inflation but also intends to map out the development of the discourse and the different positions within the debate.

Im Dossier zur Kita-Krise findet ihr eine Sammlung von Videos, Podcasts, Texten und Infografiken mit denen ihr Euch über die Kita-Krise, die darum geführten Kämpfe sowie ihre strukturellen Hintergründe informieren könnt.

Der Beitrag skizziert kritische polit-ökonomische Bildung als eine umfassende herrschaftskritische Praxis mit dem Ziel der Aufhebung der gegenwärtigen Form gesellschaftlicher Reproduktion.

Über kollektive Arbeitszeitverkürzung wird derzeit kontrovers diskutiert – wir haben einen Wegweiser zusammengestellt, der einen Überblick über das Thema geben soll.

Fabian Georgi analysiert, wie Migration und Grenzen, sowohl grundlegend als auch in der gegenwärtigen historischen Phase, mit dem Kapitalismus zusammenhängen.

Die Inflation ist als ökonomisches Phänomen für VWL-Studierende ähnlich schwer zu fassen wie für die breite Öffentlichkeit und die Politik. Dieser Artikel entwickelt einen Analyserahmen, der helfen soll, über Inflation sowohl als ein wirtschaftliches als auch als ein politisches Phänomen nachzudenken.

In 18th century Europe figures such as Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Friedrich List and Jean Baptiste Colbert developed theories regarding international trade, which either embraced free trade seeing it as a positive sum game or recommended more cautious and strategic approaches to trade seeing it as a potential danger and a rivalry and often as a zero-sum game. What about today?

This historic timeline presents economic events, economic thinkers and schools of thought from the 18th century until the 2007/2008 financial and economic crisis with short texts on the respective event or perspective.

An essay of the writing workshop on contemporary issues in the field of Nigerian economics: In Nigeria, it appears that there is nothing in the constitution, which excludes the participation of women in politics. Yet, when it comes to actual practice, there is extensive discrimination. The under-representation of women in political participation gained root due to the patriarchal practice inherent in our society, much of which were obvious from pre-colonial era till date.

Caring activities are one central element of feminist economists' analysis – also since in particular unremunerated work is a blind spot in mainstream economics and most other economic paradigms. Those focus on the market sphere: activities are considered as productive and as real labour if they are remunerated and market-intermediated. Goods and services are considered as labour if they create a value which can be traded on the market. Feminist Economics remarks that this perspective creates certain dichotomies and consequent devaluations: unproductive – productive; private – public; unpaid – remunerated OR paid less – well paid; female – male; soft work – hard work; caring – rationality.

What’s inflation? Why is it relevant? And is there an agreed theory about its roots and causes, or is it a contentious concept? That’s what this text is all about: We define what inflation actually means before we delve into the theoretical debate with an interdisciplinary and pluralist approach: What gives rise to it, what factors might influence it, and, consequently, what might be done about it?

Die Modern Monetary Theory (kurz: MMT, dt: moderne Geldtheorie) ist eine geldtheoretische und makroökonomische Denkschule, bei der es hauptsächlich um die Analyse des Geld- und Kreditsystems und insbesondere um die Frage der Kreditschöpfung geht.

This text summarizes the content of the 2018 Nobel Prize winner W. Nordhaus. It is extended by some critical perspectives on this topic. The short dossier gives an overview of the most important texts we have read in the climate economics reading group.

In the history of the social sciences, few individuals have exerted as much influence as has Jeremy Bentham. His attempt to become “the Newton of morals” has left a marked impression upon the methodology and form of analysis that social sciences like economics and political science have chosen as modus operandi.

Stratification economics is defined as a systemic and empirically grounded approach to addressing intergroup inequality. Stratification economics integrates economics, sociology and social psychology to distinctively analyze inequality across groups that are socially differentiated, be it by race, ethnicity, gender, caste, sexuality, religion or any other social differentiation.

If there’s one method economists have neglected the most, it’s qualitative research. Whereas economists favour mathematical models and statistics, qualitative research seeks to understand the world through intensive investigation of particular circumstances, which usually entails interviewing people directly about their experiences. While this may sound simple to quantitative types the style, purpose, context, and interpretation of an interview can vary widely. Because of this variety, I have written a longer post than usual on this topic rather than doing it a disservice. Having said that, examples of qualitative research in economics are sadly scant enough that it doesn’t warrant multiple posts. In this post I will introduce qualitative research in general with nods to several applications including the study of firm behaviour, race, Austrian economics, and health economics. More than usual I will utilise block quotes, which I feel is in the spirit of the topic.

An essay of the writing workshop on Nigeria’s Readiness for and the Effect of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

This chapter discusses the role of gender in economic relations, processes, and outcomes. Gender differences in economic outcomes such as labor force participation and wages have received growing attention from economists in the last several decades – a positive and much needed development in economic thinking.

The total sum of squares and the total degrees of freedoms are disaggregated by calculating in sample variance and "between" sample variance and their respective degrees of freedoms. It is demonstrated numerically that both these measures add up to the total sum of squares and the total degrees of freedom.

The video presents different ways of how to measure the money supply and thereby explains the differences between M0, M1 and M2.

A historical glimpse of how economists of the 19th century debated the usefulness of mathematics to economics

In this article, Perry Mehrling, a professor of economics at Barnard College, presents and discusses three theories of banking which are guiding bank regulation. These are credit creation theory, fractional reserve theory and debt intermediation theory.

The Philosophy of Economics Foundational Text provides a systematic and well-structured overview over the field of philosophy of economics.

An Introduction to the Political Theory of John Maynard Keynes. John Maynard Keynes was arguably the greatest economist of the 20th century. He discovered the idea that governments should stimulate demand during economic downturns.

This article reviews insights of existing literature on global care chains. A specific focus is laid on the impact that the refugee crisis has on global care chains and in turn how the crisis impacts the de-skilling of the women in the migrant workforce.

Die Sozialökonomik ist 1. die historische Fachbezeichnung einer integrierten Sozial- und Wirtschaftswissenschaft (vgl. Einzelwissenschaft, Disziplin) und 2. ein kontextabhängiger Ausdruck für komplexe Zusammenhänge von Gesellschaft und Wirtschaft (vgl. Sozialökonomie bzw. Sozioökonomie).

Deforestation is estimated to be responsible for about 12-29% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This essay will explore ecological economics as an alternative lens through which to approach forest conservation and the acceleration of climate change.

“Economics is the science which studies human behaviour as a relationship between ends and scarce means which have alternative uses1.” This is how Lionel Robbins came to define economics in the early 1930s and there is a good chance that many of you heard a variant of this definition in your first Economics 101 lecture.

This paper is a product of an online workshop held in Nigeria on the topic Unemployment: Policy Review and Recommendations. It explores the various unemployment policies introduced by the Nigerian Government and analysis how effective they are and suggests some practicable solutions to solving unemployment problems in the country. The workshop was organized by Rethinking Economics The Uploaders (RETU) as part of the project Solving the Major Economic Problem in Nigeria (SMEPN), an output of the Global Pluralist Economics Training (GPET). More details here: https://www.retheuploaders.org/programs/SMEPN

Stiglitz answers the question why globalization and world trade has not delivered on its promise of increased well being as much as classical economists thought, by pointing to the power asymmetries: firstly, between industrialized nations and developing nations and secondly, between special corporate interest and social interests. In his analysis, developed countries and MNCs were able to extract the benefits, while shifting the costs (i.e. pollution) to states and communities with lesser power. Amongst many other historical examples the pharmaceutical and the mining industry are discussed to some length.