Thomas Piketty is the author of the best-selling Capital in the Twenty-First Century (Harvard University Press, 2014). Piketty delivered the keynote address at the annual conference of TASC (Think-tank for Action on Social Change) at Croke Park, Dublin in June 2014. In association with TASC, History Hub presents an exclusive video recording of Piketty’s presentation, which was based on his acclaimed book.

About Thomas Piketty:

Thomas Piketty is Professor of Economics at the Paris School of Economics. He has done major historical and theoretical work on the interplay between economic development and the distribution of income and wealth. His work emphasizes the role of political and fiscal institutions in the historical evolution of income and wealth distribution.

About Capital in the Twenty-First Century:

In Capital in the Twenty-First Century, Piketty analyzes a unique collection of data from twenty countries, ranging as far back as the eighteenth century, to uncover key economic and social patterns. Piketty shows that modern economic growth and the diffusion of knowledge have allowed us to avoid inequalities on the apocalyptic scale predicted by Karl Marx. But we have not modified the deep structures of capital and inequality as much as we thought in the optimistic decades following World War II. The main driver of inequality—the tendency of returns on capital to exceed the rate of economic growth—today threatens to generate extreme inequalities that stir discontent and undermine democratic values. But economic trends are not acts of God. Political action has curbed dangerous inequalities in the past, Piketty says, and may do so again. Capital in the Twenty-First Century reorients our understanding of economic history and confronts us with sobering lessons for today (via Harvard University Press).

Praise for Capital in the Twenty-First Century:

“It seems safe to say that Capital in the Twenty-First Century, the magnum opus of the French economist Thomas Piketty, will be the most important economics book of the year—and maybe of the decade. Piketty, arguably the world’s leading expert on income and wealth inequality, does more than document the growing concentration of income in the hands of a small economic elite. He also makes a powerful case that we’re on the way back to ‘patrimonial capitalism,’ in which the commanding heights of the economy are dominated not just by wealth, but also by inherited wealth, in which birth matters more than effort and talent.”—Paul Krugman, The New York Times.

“An extraordinary sweep of history backed by remarkably detailed data and analysis… Piketty’s economic analysis and historical proofs are breathtaking.”—Robert B. Reich, The Guardian.

About TASC:

TASC (Think-tank for Action on Social Change) is an independent progressive think-tank whose core focus is economic equality and democratic accountability. As a public-education charity (CHY 14778), TASC seeks to raise the level of public knowledge about public policy, politics, economics, culture, the environment and related fields, to encourage a more equal, democratic and inclusive society.

TASC’s mission is to produce policy analysis and present evidence-based proposals for the achievement of a more equal, flourishing society with accountable government and strong, responsible public engagement. TASC’s work focuses in particular on proposals to reduce Ireland’s high and persistent level of economic inequality and to develop the genuine participation of people in decisions that affect themselves and their society, as well as an overall commitment to promote social equality and non-discrimination including the nine grounds in the Equal Status Acts 2000-2011. For more on TASC visit www.tasc.ie

TASC Annual Lecture:

Building on Thomas Piketty’s keynote address to the annual conference, this year’s TASC annual lecture will be delivered by Professor Brian Nolan (University of Oxford). The event will take place in The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland on 20 November 2014 – 6 PM to 9 PM. The event is free to attend. In order to register for this event, please email sbyrne@tasc.ie

Image: Thomas Piketty imparteix la 25a. edició de la Lliçó d’Economia by Universitat Pompeu Fabra, on Flickr.