Guardian columnist, senior economics commentator and host of the new Radical Thinking podcast Aditya Chakrabortty is answering your questions on the big ideas around economics, society and democracy, and his new podcast
Send your questions to conversations@theguardian.com or join the discussion on Friday from 8am
Flaxborough asks: Hi Aditya, can you answer truthfully, do you think we are heading for total economic and social collapse? How soon? Will we rise from it afterwards?
Aditya says: In truth, i think the UK is in economic and social collapse – it’s just that some people can’t see it, and others are too polite or arrogant to point it out.
But what else should we call the most miserable period for wages and growth since Napoleon Bonaparte was on his horse charging around Europe? The worst decade for living standards since the end of rationing? Shit in our rivers? Joke prime ministers who blunder about, get booted offstage, then earn £££s? And no, not just Liz Truss, but Cameron and Johnson too
The reason this isn’t recognised is because Britain is a highly unequal country where pain is heaped on those most hurt. Even in a collapsing country, some people always do well. Look at Argentina in the 1990s/2000s for an example.
Flaxborough, my friend, don’t ask when collapse will arrive: recognise it’s here already. And push for something better.
Aditya says: Thanks so much for this, Michael. It’s great to get your feedback on the Radical Thinking podcast – and i’d love to hear more from viewers and listeners about what they are enjoying from the series so far.
Just to explain: Radical Thinking began as a one-off series of conversations. The idea was to capture some of the energy and ideas of this particular moment – a change of prime minister in the UK, Trump and the Mid-terms, the rise of the far right. We publish every weekend here as well as YouTube, Spotify, Apple. This Saturday’s episode is with two of the best dissenting economists around on some of the central issues in this week’s Budget – it’s a corker.
You’re right – part of our (tiny) team is from Politics Weekly and because it’s a one-off we don’t have a separate channel. HOWEVER! The reaction so far has been astonishing, so strong that we’re thinking about more. So: watch this space
Glad you like the further reading. Again, i started it as an experiment – and i know it hasn’t appeared everywhere – but if it’s useful i’ll keep it up