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pampango

(24,692 posts)
Wed Jun 29, 2016, 06:41 AM Jun 2016

Thomas Piketty quit as a Labour adviser. "Brexit is 'political suicide'".

Thomas Piketty, the superstar leftwing economist and author of Capital in the Twenty-First Century, has quit as a Labour party adviser.

He was one of several heavyweight and renowned economists on the economic advisory committee set up by John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor. It seems that his decision was largely prompted by lack of time, but he has criticised Labour’s performance in the EU referendum.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/jun/29/brexit-live-sad-cameron-eu-immigration-corbyn-leadership?page=with:block-5773954ce4b03b1c80766537#liveblog-navigation

EU referendum: Star economist Thomas Piketty says Brexit would be 'political suicide'

French author and economist Thomas Piketty has urged the British public to vote to remain in the European Union, saying that a Brexit would be "political suicide" for the country. Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival, Piketty stated that voting to leave Europe in the 23 June referendum would be disastrous for Britain's economy and would lead to further fracturing of the United Kingdom.

"I think it will be very sad for Europe. I think it will be, you know, even worse for Britain. I think for Britain it would be like a political suicide because after this happens, very likely, the next step will be Scotland will get out of Britain, which will then become a very small country basically.

Piketty is in Cannes to announce that his book, Capital in the 21st Century, is to be turned into a film. The book reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list and has sold nearly three million copies worldwide. It explores how capitalism affects the world.

"I would never before have thought that I would come to Cannes because my book was to become a film, so this is an incredible adventure," Piketty said.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/eu-referendum-star-economist-thomas-piketty-says-brexit-would-be-political-suicide-1560057

Pretty cool that his book will be made into a movie.
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Thomas Piketty quit as a Labour adviser. "Brexit is 'political suicide'". (Original Post) pampango Jun 2016 OP
This message was self-deleted by its author rjsquirrel Jun 2016 #1
FIFY Wounded Bear Jun 2016 #2
This message was self-deleted by its author rjsquirrel Jun 2016 #3
Obvious, Mr Squirrel: free trade makes the world better Albertoo Jun 2016 #4
This message was self-deleted by its author rjsquirrel Jun 2016 #5
The 2008 crisis has propped up demagoguery, including on the Left Albertoo Jun 2016 #6
This message was self-deleted by its author rjsquirrel Jun 2016 #7
I'm not sure current rules allow you the last sentence Albertoo Jun 2016 #8
This message was self-deleted by its author rjsquirrel Jun 2016 #9
A-friggin'-men! Surya Gayatri Jun 2016 #12
"That's gonna pop some heads at DU..." Waiting for him to be tossed under the cliched bus any time. Surya Gayatri Jun 2016 #11
I love your joke Albertoo Jun 2016 #13
A bourgeois, if ever there was one. Surya Gayatri Jun 2016 #15
Damn that Karl Marx fat cat :) Albertoo Jun 2016 #16
Ask Piketty and he'll tell you: Globalism is not the problem; income inequality is. . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Jun 2016 #10
Yep, he said exactly that in a CBC interview a while back daleo Jun 2016 #14

Response to pampango (Original post)

Wounded Bear

(58,654 posts)
2. FIFY
Wed Jun 29, 2016, 07:16 AM
Jun 2016
Globalization of trade can have a massive net positive effect on national wealth and rising incomes.


The devil is in the details. Blanket statements like yours serve no one. Countries need to ensure that the benefits are shared by those at all income levels, and not just those at the top.

Response to Wounded Bear (Reply #2)

 

Albertoo

(2,016 posts)
4. Obvious, Mr Squirrel: free trade makes the world better
Wed Jun 29, 2016, 07:27 AM
Jun 2016

At best, customs are inefficient bureaucracies producing nothing.
At worst, customs are cocooning inefficient industries for a while, until things burst.
(see India 1950-1990, France 1870-1910)

The question of wealth distribution is largely independent of that of tariffs and customs.

Response to Albertoo (Reply #4)

 

Albertoo

(2,016 posts)
6. The 2008 crisis has propped up demagoguery, including on the Left
Wed Jun 29, 2016, 07:56 AM
Jun 2016

Trump, Farage, Corbyn, Le Pen, Podemos, Left or RW populists, selling snake oil.

The absurd GW tax cuts increasing income disparity haven't helped rational discourse,

including within the Democratic Party. Marxism is not something that ever worked.

Response to Albertoo (Reply #6)

 

Albertoo

(2,016 posts)
8. I'm not sure current rules allow you the last sentence
Wed Jun 29, 2016, 08:03 AM
Jun 2016

Erase it, even if I wouldn't entirely disagree: calling for a revolution seemed a bit extreme in a country where the great majority lives a decent life.

Response to Albertoo (Reply #8)

 

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)
12. A-friggin'-men!
Wed Jun 29, 2016, 09:44 AM
Jun 2016
The 2008 crisis has propped up demagoguery, including on the Left...

Trump, Farage, Corbyn, Le Pen, Podemos, Left or RW populists, selling snake oil.

 

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)
11. "That's gonna pop some heads at DU..." Waiting for him to be tossed under the cliched bus any time.
Wed Jun 29, 2016, 09:39 AM
Jun 2016

"PIKETTY IS DEAD TO ME NOW".

"HE WAS ALWAYS A NEO-LIBERAL CORPORATIST AT HEART".

 

Albertoo

(2,016 posts)
13. I love your joke
Wed Jun 29, 2016, 08:44 PM
Jun 2016

Piketty, always a neo-liberal corporatist at heart.

In other news, Karl Marx was a comprador.

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