A People's Guide to Capitalism
A study guide of Hadas Thier’s 2018 book ‘A People's Guide to Capitalism.’
Comprehension
Before engaging in a critical analysis of capitalism as outlined by Thier, we must first make sure we understand what she is saying. Take the following questions and answer them in your own words. When doing so, try to limit the number of sentences you use and aim to explain these concepts succinctly. To double-check your work, or if you are truly stuck, you may visit the summary sections that address the question.
The Enclosure Movement took place over the course of centuries when common lands were violently confiscated and turned into privately-owned plots all across England. How did this movement spark the beginnings of capitalism in England?
In what ways were slavery, genocide, and capitalism all interconnected? What different roles did America and England play in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade?
What is a commodity? What is the difference between an item’s use-value and exchange-value?
Marginalism is a theory in opposition to Marx’s Labor Theory of Value, and it suggests that a commodity’s worth is determined solely by supply and demand. How is this neoclassical theory flawed?
What are the two ways that capitalists can increase the rate of exploitation?
How does exploitation in the workplace disproportionately affect marginalized groups?
How did credit and financialization contribute to the Great Recession? What were its root causes?
What was the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) of 1977 and why was it so highly criticized?
What is redlining? Have you or anyone you know ever experienced housing discrimination?