Boston Book Festival 2018

Does democracy need to be reformed to preserve economic growth for all, or does capitalism need to be reformed to preserve democracy? That is the question we will tackle with three preeminent thinkers. Economist Dambisa Moyo, one of Time Magazine’s100 Most Influential People, argues in Edge of Chaosthat economic growth is paramount and that democracy must undergo radical reforms to deliver it. Robert Kuttner’s title speaks volumes: Can Democracy Survive Global Capitalism?  Kuttner blames global, predatory capitalism for workers’ declining prospects and the subsequent dwindling of democracy. Yascha Mounk, in The People vs. Democracy, deemed by The Economist a “standout” book on this subject, thinks people have fallen out of love with democracy and offers a brilliant analysis of why and what to do about it. Our moderator-cum-referee is Rebecca Henderson, who teaches Reimagining Capitalism at Harvard Business School.