Economics Archives

The Dangers of a Surveillance Economy, According to Zuboff

What is a surveillance economy? Why does it threaten your right to privacy? What are the other dangers? In The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, Harvard professor Shoshana Zuboff explores the concept and dangerous consequences of “surveillance capitalism.” By learning about these dangers, you’ll be better equipped to protect your privacy against a surveillance economy. Keep reading to learn about the surveillance economy and its consequences, according to Zuboff.

The Environmental Justice Movement Harms Prosperity

Is the environmental justice movement an enemy of capitalism? Does the movement promote real science or just political ideology? Mark Levin believes that the environmental justice movement threatens prosperity. He argues that the movement uses faulty science to feign a crisis in order to grab more control. Read more to understand the argument that Levin presents in his book American Marxism.

International Business Partnerships: Why They’re Critical

Do you have any business partnerships abroad? Why might you need them? In Hit Refresh, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discusses the importance of international business partnerships. Drawing on his own experience, he shares two ways you can benefit from such ventures. Continue reading to learn the advantages of global partnerships.

Max Weber’s Iron Cage: Are We Trapped Beyond Hope?

What’s Max Weber’s “iron cage”? Was his analysis and prediction about the modern world accurate? Max Weber’s classic work The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism discusses the socio-economic and religious roots of modern capitalism—and of our productivity-focused culture. He ends the book with a reflection on the materialist bent of the modern world. Let’s take a look at Weber’s view, Steven Pinker’s perspective, and some wisdom from a Chinese proverb.

Max Weber: Capitalism Arose From the Protestant Ethic

What’s Max Weber’s theory about the origins of capitalism? How does it compare to Karl Marx’s theory? According to Max Weber, capitalism became a global economy because of the work ethic of Protestants in America and western Europe. This is the argument he presents in his classic work The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Keep reading to learn more about Weber’s theory about the rise of capitalism.

How the Spirit of Capitalism Arose From the Protestant Ethic

How did capitalism take hold as a major world economy? How much of an influence did religion have? Max Weber argued in his 1905 classic that the early Protestants in western Europe and America pioneered the way of life that became the modern capitalist’s lifestyle. And, in doing so, they provided the cultural and financial impetus for capitalism to become a full-fledged economic system. Continue reading to learn how the spirit of capitalism arose from the Protestant ethic.

How to Tackle Global Warming Without Sacrificing Development

Can global warming be tackled without sacrificing economic growth? What are some ways we can address global warming without reducing our energy demand? According to Bill Gates, global warming shouldn’t be the reason to halt economic growth, especially in developing countries. We can find ways to offset the effects of global warming without reducing global energy needs. Here’s how to tackle global warming without sacrificing development, according to Bill Gates.

How the Calvinist Work Ethic Changed the World

What’s the Calvinist work ethic? Where did it come from, and how did it shape society? According to Max Weber, John Calvin’s doctrine of predestination created the Calvinist work ethic. Weber contends that it was this value (which he commonly refers to as “the Protestant ethic”) that gave rise to capitalism as a world economy. Keep reading to understand Weber’s argument.

Max Weber Quotes From The Protestant Ethic, Explained

What are some of the best Max Weber quotes from The Protestant Ethic? What captures Weber’s message? The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism discusses the socio-economic and religious roots of modern capitalism—and of our productivity-focused culture. Max Weber argues that the Protestant Reformation changed how people lived, worked, and used their money. Continue reading for six quotes from this classic work.

Bill Gates: Curbing Air Conditioning’s Carbon Footprint

How does air conditioning contribute to global warming? What can we do to curb the rise in CO2 emissions resulting from air conditioning technology? As the planet warms, the use of cooling technology will increase. According to Bill Gates, the demand for air conditioning will triple by 2050, which means carbon emissions will also triple unless we step in to offset the damage. Here are some potential solutions Gates suggests for curbing air conditioning’s carbon footprint.