A Tour of Views on China’s Relationship to Imperialism

To complement “China and Imperialism: Elements for the Debate,” which explores how to characterize China within the imperialist system, this article presents some of the alternative positions.

The Stock Market Celebrates Biden’s Cabinet Picks

The stock market posted record-breaking gains this week on the news of Joe Biden’s transition and corporate-friendly cabinet picks. These market gains mean more profits for capitalists and investors as the economic crisis continues for the working class.

G20: The Debt Solution

The G20 summit took place virtually this past weekend, with the G20 leaders discussing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the world economy. What does this mean for the current debt crisis? The following article was originally posted on Michael Roberts’ blog, “The Next Recession.”

Fifteen Asia-Pacific Countries Sign World’s Largest Free Trade Agreement

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was signed November 15 by 15 Asia-Pacific countries, to great fanfare in China’s pro-regime press. Currently of relatively limited economic scope, it could in the long term be a fulcrum in the fierce struggle between the major powers to conquer Asian markets.

What’s Next: Stimulus or Austerity?

Joe Biden will become president at a moment when the global economic downturn poses a critical question for U.S. capital: austerity or stimulus? The answer appears to be federal stimulus and austerity through state budgets. However it plays out, capital calls the shots.

The Social Composition of the Anti-Trump Vote

It took days of counting votes, but the 2020 election finally ended. Biden won because workers, ethnic minorities, young people and city dwellers voted against Trump. Economist Michael Roberts investigates the data. The following article was originally posted on Michael Roberts’ blog, “The Next Recession."

World Markets Rattled by Election Uncertainty

Capitalism craves the certainty of a steady rate of profit, based on assurances that exploitation can chug along from day to day as it always has. The uncertainty of the U.S. presidential election, with no winner declared, is creating much-despised volatility in markets across the globe.

Goodbye Jobs and Hello Poverty: U.S. Capitalism in the Runup to the Elections and Beyond

Tens of thousands of workers across the United States have lost their jobs in the last month, and most of those jobs won’t be coming back. There are 8 million people newly below the poverty line since May. This is the promise of U.S. capitalism in the age of crisis and coronavirus.

Stocks Fall, GDP Rises, Workers Always Take a Beating

Regardless of who wins the election next week, the economy is tanking. Rather than recovery, the pandemic and coming recession promise more market volatility and more hardship for the working class. What do the most recent numbers tell us?