Democracy at Work is a left-of-center advocacy group headed by former University of Massachusetts, Amherst professor Richard D. Wolff, whom a New York Times writer characterized as “probably America’s most prominent Marxist economist.” ¹ The group continues the work of  Wolff’s book, Democracy at Work: A Cure for Capitalism. ²

Democracy at Work calls for “democratizing workplaces” based on socialist principles. The organization produces several media projects, including “Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff.”

Background

Democracy at Work calls for “democratizing workplaces” based on socialist principles. The organization’s mission is based on Wolff’s 2012 book, Democracy at Work: A Cure for Capitalism. ³

Marxist economist Richard D. Wolff founded the organization to spread the view that capitalism is the problem ailing the United States and advocate for Marxism. The organization sponsors several media outlets, including a website, a magazine, a radio show and numerous podcasts. It also sponsors live events. ⁴

Richard Wolff

Richard D. Wolff is an economist and founder of Democracy at Work. He was an economics professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 1973 to 2008. He is currently a visiting professor of international affairs at the New School in New York.

Wolff’s weekly radio show “Economics Update with Richard D. Wolff” airs on more than 70 radio stations across the United States. ⁵

A 2012 New York Times article referred to Wolff as “probably America’s most prominent Marxist economist.” ⁶

In an interview with Democracy Now, he called it “sad” that more Americans aren’t looking at Marxism, stating: “Over the last 40 years in America, it’s a sort of a sad comment, but if you’re interested in Marxism, then people look at you as if you either are a Marxist, or worse, some sort of caricature of a Marxist. So, I always have said I use Marxist theory, I find it very insightful, I think it’s a shame that other people don’t have it, and I think it’s made me a better economist when it comes to writing and teaching than I would have been without that.” ⁷

Wolff previously taught at Yale University from 1967 to 1969, at City College of the City University of New York from 1969-1973. He was also a visiting professor of economics at the University of Paris (France), I (Sorbonne) in 1994. He earned a PhD in economics from Yale University in 1969. ⁸

He worked with his Stephen Resnick to promote Marxist economics when the theory was largely falling out of fashion after the Soviet Union collapsed and the United States won the Cold War. ⁹

Wolff was a co-founder of the Association of Economic and Social Analysis (AESA) in 1988. The association published a new journal titled Rethinking Marxism. ¹⁰

Wolff began writing in 2005 about the “global capitalist crisis” and claimed vindication after the recession of 2008. He lectured at universities across the United States, in front of crowds at institutions including Notre Dame, University of Missouri, Washington College, Franklin and Marshall College, and New York University. ¹¹ He has written for the far-left commentary website Truthout. ¹²

In 2016 he publicly endorsed and served as an adviser for Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein. ¹³

Media Projects

The organization created several media projects. Chief among these is “Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff,” a weekly TV, radio show and podcast.

 David Harey’s Anti-Capitalist Chronicles is a bimonthly podcast that touts a “Marxist lens.” Harvey is described by the organization as having been a Marxist scholar for more than four decades. ¹⁴

Puerto Rico Forward is a monthly podcast with host Andrew Mercado-Vázquez of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The show talks about the “colonial history and domestic and international economic relationships.” ¹⁵

The program Capitalism Hits Home with Dr. Harriet Fraad is a podcast that talks about how capitalism affects the psychology of home life, relationships at work and romance. ¹⁶

The “EconoMinute” are short video updates of news about the economy. Each runs less than 10 minutes. ¹⁷

Understanding Marxism is Wolff’s recent publishing project promoting why Karl Marx’s economic and social policy ideas are relevant in today’s America. ¹⁸

“Global Capitalism: Love Economic Update” is the group’s series of bi-monthly lectures taking questions from live audiences in New York. ¹⁹

Leadership and Staff

Richard D. Wolff is the founder of Democracy at Work.

Ben August is a Democracy at Work board member.

Betsy Avila is the group’s managing director.

Maria Carnemolla is media director of Democracy at Work.

Liz Phillips is Democracy at Work’s public engagement manager.

Jamie Katz is the group’s global capitalism coordinator.

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