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The dirty secret of capitalism — and a new way forward | Nick Hanauer

Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, subtitles, translations, personalized Talk recommendations and more. Rising inequality and growing political instability are the direct result of decades of bad economic theory, says entrepreneur Nick Hanauer. In a visionary talk, he dismantles the mantra that “greed is good” — an idea he describes as not…

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Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, subtitles, translations, personalized Talk recommendations and more.

Rising inequality and growing political instability are the direct result of decades of bad economic theory, says entrepreneur Nick Hanauer. In a visionary talk, he dismantles the mantra that “greed is good” — an idea he describes as not only morally corrosive, but also scientifically wrong — and lays out a new theory of economics powered by reciprocity and cooperation.

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You’re welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know. For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request here:

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25 Comments

25 Comments

  1. Glen Glen

    October 23, 2019 at 3:58 am

    We could also end free trade. Free trade is a concept we all take for granted but is only a modern creation. We used to protect our industries, regulate food pricing, energy etc.
    The invisible arm of the market just means we’ll get chaos, a race to the top where those with the most already can grab the most of the new wealth as well and once the crash comes because we’ve printed so much debt for the bankers and financiers to gamble away all the losses laid on the regular tax payer. The alternative is after all global economic collapse.

    We could also overlook the whole consumer culture in the west. Growing up I remember it used to be the norm to buy one tv every third year, not brand new ones every Christmas sale or a new phone model every half year. This rampant consumption is poisoning the environment and the minds of people.

  2. Neuby Doo

    October 23, 2019 at 4:06 am

    Using his money to affect change that affects us. Still a 1% idiot that is destroying more than helping anyone, but himself.
    Get money out of politics or revolution it is.

  3. Tom X

    October 23, 2019 at 4:38 am

    “Market is not a jungle, but a garden”, welcome to China!

  4. Drew N

    October 23, 2019 at 5:51 am

    Raising minimum wage will eventually lead to the devaluation of the dollar, due to the fact that there will be more dollars in circulation. It may work for a short time in a small location, but nationally it would be a disaster.
    Employers make millions, because they invested their money, taking a huge risk, and used their skill and business sense. Often they use their money to invest, creating more jobs.
    Most of those share holders are 401k and pension plans.
    The actual reason why jerks like this acquired so much wealth is they moved all of their operations to 3rd world countries, paying people next to nothing.
    This guys talking Socialism which led to the the death of 200 million people.
    We all might make the same money, but we all won’t have the same amount of toilet paper.

  5. nuitNo.6

    October 23, 2019 at 6:08 am

    Earth’s economy is a zero-sum game till we start mining asteroids.

  6. Justin R

    October 23, 2019 at 6:13 am

    You are not a capitalist. You’re a crony capitalist. Using your wealth to buy influence and compel other billionaires to pay more is NOT capitalism.

  7. D800Lover

    October 23, 2019 at 6:15 am

    We don’t live in an economy, we live in a society.

  8. Curtis Elmore

    October 23, 2019 at 6:40 am

    He’s misstating the assumptions of capitalism. It’s not that those things Always hold true, it’s that they tend to hold true, such that over time they do. His examples haven’t had enough time for the theories he’s trying to refute to work. He doesn’t see that he’s trying to increase things that are of value to him, which is part of the market. He says sociopathy is bad for business, so he’s still trying to do business when he puts down sociopathy. If a more compassionate society is what people want, they’ll select it through the market. Nice try. Swing and a miss.

  9. Alan Woodcraft

    October 23, 2019 at 6:56 am

    The first impulse in crisis is reform after revolution, this a highly nuanced critique but Karl Marx said it better a hundred a fifty years ago.

  10. Brian Smith

    October 23, 2019 at 7:35 am

    Interesting talk – had to do some research on the use of “neoliberal economics” before this made sense. I would not have classified Reaganomics and Thatcher’s economic policies under “neoliberalism” because both were politically conservative. And, in that, I was wrong – “neoliberal economics” are the policies promoted by conservatives, not liberals – on the political spectrum – deregulation, privatization, reduced government spending to allow the private sector a larger say in the economy and society – these are goals that are not embraced by liberals but by conservatives. I like the comment below which says it is actually neoconservative policies being discussed; I would add to that the choice to use the word neoliberal was done on purpose (there were and are many alternatives wherein the subterfuge embraced, in this case, is not required) it was not a mere happenstance.

  11. Jonathan Gunnell

    October 23, 2019 at 7:38 am

    “Greed is good” is a straw man. The love of money is a root of all evil yes, but such love is not confined to the rich, neither do the rich exclusively pursue money. The marxist analysis that capitalism would collapse because rich people would keep getting richer and the poor would keep getting poorer has been proven wrong by history. Most rich people people and company leaders actively work to improve the lot of their workforce. You can’t sell things unless money circulates.

  12. A F

    October 23, 2019 at 7:50 am

  13. Dipankar Kalita

    October 23, 2019 at 8:29 am

    Marxist talk given by Capitalist

  14. john paul bacon

    October 23, 2019 at 11:15 am

    Legal tax evasion, not really a secret.

  15. Vunerio

    October 23, 2019 at 11:37 am

    Nick Hanauer president

  16. Harsh Singh

    October 23, 2019 at 11:52 am

    The human race is going to face the biggest unemployment in the next 5-10 years. The world is going to go berzerk in the next 15 years. So many people will loose their jobs. Automation is Going to be the reason for alot of suicides. Yes it will create jobs but it will eat more jobs. Only the rich are going to be happy about it because they will make more money.

  17. Harsh Singh

    October 23, 2019 at 11:55 am

    We need to have less kids well at least some countries. If you have less people to feed and take care of then the quality of life also increases and you can get health cover and free education from the government. In a country like China or India it’s impossible to provide health cover 1.4 billion people. Hence the quality of life in these countries Suck.

  18. cowboygareth

    October 23, 2019 at 1:18 pm

    much improved upon his last TEDx talk.

  19. Antony Simkin

    October 23, 2019 at 1:24 pm

    We are social competing creatures by evolution. Stop this bullshit. We can’t change. And the economics are just the mirror of what we are. Sorry fokes.

  20. Dogmakarma Store

    October 23, 2019 at 1:32 pm

    Thank you Captain Obvious!

    Disinformation, spouted by characters who enjoy hearing themselves talk and do it publicly for applause, is now rampant. Talking points, such as the buzz term “neo-liberal” (not actually a real economic, political, or sociological term) pepper the diatribe, providing an apparent theme, while pushing a preset negative agenda. Sparse data, usually unverified, is included to lend an air of verisimilitude.

    Nothing new here. Nothing novel. So glad the man is doing well enough to brag about it. Too bad no solutions are offered, except how the phantom “neo-liberals” should immediately change their thinking to magically bring about nirvana.

  21. Somnath Banerjee

    October 23, 2019 at 1:58 pm

    The only good thing is, you guys stated very honestly that capitalism is a dirty game. And, proudly claimed money buys laws. The problem is, you guys have academic degree and a deadliest passion of earning and running the world. Capitalist and other evils have gifted today’s world. And this trend destroyed education system to industries, internal human qualities to external society structure. It’s time to read, read with mindfulness; I not only love reading books but also like to live in the pages. The bad thing is, capitalists have money, but not prosperity; they have love of power but not power of love. Acquiring material pleasure without gaining wisdom is like bathing in a lake with thirst. Study Einstein, Vivekananda, Edgar Cayce, Romain Rolland, Karl Marx and please follow mathematics. Do you have any ideas or mathematical proofs for coming European crisis and Present Asia-Pacific, Africa’s socioeconomic problems?…There are few concepts you need to study Sharing Economy and Socialist economy and it’s impact on civilisation. There is nothing left fruitful in capitalism. So, please make a full stop. I, Somnath. Thank you.

  22. Gayla Rice

    October 23, 2019 at 2:06 pm

    We have a candidate with a plan that address this problem and if you look him up on YouTube and listen to him speak and answer questions you’ll hear the answers for new economic growth for all Americans and human centered capitalism. Andrew Yang. It’s up to us to vote in change.

  23. Julian Dorey

    October 23, 2019 at 2:32 pm

    What a crock. What about zero interest rates, ip and land values? I think he’s still worrying about the pitchforks and hopes this will build his shield.

  24. TheRussellProject

    October 23, 2019 at 2:48 pm

    multiplier effect engineered quickly manufactured products.

  25. Vegan Winter

    October 23, 2019 at 3:25 pm

    Capitalism that the Higher Powers despise is the carnism and inhumane use and slavery of any species , a sign of true intelligence and softheartedness.

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What to Do When You’re Told There’s Nothing Left to Try | David Fajgenbaum, Kiah Williams | TED

What do you do when the world declares something impossible? When physician-scientist David Fajgenbaum was dying from a rare disease and social entrepreneur Kiah Williams was confronting the realities of economic hardship, they began asking a different question: What can I do today? In this conversation, they discuss how turning hope into action can drive…

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What do you do when the world declares something impossible? When physician-scientist David Fajgenbaum was dying from a rare disease and social entrepreneur Kiah Williams was confronting the realities of economic hardship, they began asking a different question: What can I do today? In this conversation, they discuss how turning hope into action can drive meaningful change — one step at a time. (This conversation is hosted by The Audacious Project’s Alexandra Tillmann) (Recorded at TEDNext 2025 on November 10, 2025.)

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Being surrounded by puppies all day and helping people in need? Talk about a DREAM job! #TEDTalks

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Which Idea Wins Over 4,000 People? | Amman | TED Idea Search

The TED Idea Search wraps up in Amman, Jordan, in a 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater and in front of a crowd of 4,000. What unfolds inside those stone walls is something the series hasn’t quite seen before: speakers shaped by the weight of living in a region the world tends to define for itself. From a…

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The TED Idea Search wraps up in Amman, Jordan, in a 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater and in front of a crowd of 4,000. What unfolds inside those stone walls is something the series hasn’t quite seen before: speakers shaped by the weight of living in a region the world tends to define for itself. From a mountaineer who turned grief into motivation to a therapist rewriting the Arab world’s language around mental health, the final city makes the strongest case yet that the best ideas can come from anywhere.

Watch the full talks from the TEDxAmman Idea Search:

00:00 – Intro
3:24 – Rehearsals
16:00 – The Talks
36:28 – Deliberation
38:48 – The Winner Is…

The most interesting ideas often come from the most unexpected places. We searched the globe for ideas with the power to inspire, motivate and change lives — and we found them at @TEDx events around the world. The TED Idea Search follows extraordinary speakers from 9 countries competing for a spot on the TED main stage in Vancouver this April.

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The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.

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