There is a fundamentalist belief by capitalists that capital will save the world, and it just isn't so. Thomas Piketty beliefcapitalcapitalist Change image and share on social
When you are an entrepreneur, you have founded your own firm, it is so easy to find that you exist - you are the main shareholder of your company; it is very easy to look at the stock market position of your company to know how rich you are. Thomas Piketty companyeasyentrepreneur share on social
I am afraid that if you don't find peaceful domestic solutions to our inequality and social problems, then it's always tempting to find other people responsible for our problems. Thomas Piketty afraiddomesticfind Change image and share on social
Once constituted, capital reproduces itself faster than output increases. The past devours the future. Thomas Piketty capitalconstitutedevour Change image and share on social
Economists have put themselves in a position where what they are doing is supposed to be impossible to understand for outsiders, so they don't even talk - sometimes not even with their girlfriend or boyfriend or friends - about what they are doing. Thomas Piketty boyfriendeconomistfriend share on social
When inequality gets too extreme, then it becomes useless for growth, and it can even become bad because it tends to lead to high perpetuation of inequality over time and low mobility. Thomas Piketty badextremegrowth Change image and share on social
The United States could transform its property tax system into a progressive tax on net worth without asking permission to the rest of the world. Thomas Piketty netpermissionprogressive Change image and share on social
I am not political. It is not my job. But I would be happy if politicians could read my work and draw some conclusions from it. Thomas Piketty conclusiondrawhappy Change image and share on social
I think inequality is fine, as long as it is in the common interest. The problem is when it gets so extreme, when it becomes excessive. Thomas Piketty commonexcessiveextreme Change image and share on social
I was born too late to have any temptation with communism, or at least Soviet-type communism. Travelling in Eastern Europe and the ex-Soviet Union, you clearly don't want to defend a system that would have empty shops and a totalitarian regime and internal passports. Thomas Piketty bearcommunismdefend share on social