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Book Summary

Capital in the Twenty-First Century

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Brief Summary

Capital in the Twenty-First Century is both a warning and a call to action. Piketty reveals that capitalism, left unchecked, produces self-reinforcing inequality. The concentration of wealth isn’t a temporary flaw—it’s a structural outcome of r > g. If nothing changes, the 21st century could resemble the 19th: a world of dynastic fortunes, entrenched elites, and declining social mobility.

But Piketty also shows that history can be reversed. Through progressive taxation, public investment, and global transparency, societies can redirect capitalism toward inclusion and innovation. The fight against inequality, he argues, is not just economic—it is the defining political and moral struggle of our time.

About the Author

Thomas Piketty is a French economist and professor at the Paris School of Economics. Renowned for his research on historical inequality, Piketty co-founded the World Inequality Database, which compiles global wealth data. His 2013 book Capital in the Twenty-First Century became an international phenomenon, reshaping how policymakers and scholars understand capitalism. Piketty’s subsequent works—Capital and Ideology (2019) and A Brief History of Equality (2022)—expand on his call for participatory socialism, arguing that true democracy requires economic as well as political equality. His meticulous empirical research and bold vision have made him one of the most influential economists of the 21st century.

Topics

Money & Investments

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