FREE with Clara Mattei

Economists Clara Mattei and Richard D. Wolff break down why capitalism has failed to deliver on its promises of liberty, equality, and democracy. From the hidden coercion of the labor market to the politics of inflation and unemployment, they expose how the system sustains inequality — and explore how worker cooperatives could offer a real path to economic emancipation. 📚 Richard Wolff’s latest b...

In this episode of the FREE (Forum for Real Economic Emancipation) podcast, hosts Claire and Professor Ibrahim Shikaki, an associate professor of economics at Trinity College and an expert on the political economy of Palestine, delve into the economic dimensions of the crisis in the region. They discuss Professor Shikaki's paper, "Weaponizing Economics Against Palestine," and explore how economics...

Why is austerity always the answer, and who does it really serve? In this explainer, economist Clara Mattei, executive director of the Forum for Real Economic Emancipation (FREE), breaks down the political logic of austerity, not as a budgeting mistake, but as a tool of systemic control. From slashed food stamps to rising interest rates, from military expansion to mass unemployment, austerity isn’...

Welcome to FREE: The Forum for Real Economic Emancipation. In our first episode, Clara Mattei dismantles one of the biggest myths in economics: the idea of a “free market.”We dive deep into:✔ Why the free market is a myth and what really sustains it✔ How inequality isn’t an accident, but part of the system’s design✔ Why mainstream economics keeps us powerlessClara also reflects on her conversation...