Thomas Piketty
Thomas Piketty
Thomas Pikettyis a French economist who works on wealth and income inequality. He is a professorat the École des hautes études en sciences sociales, associate chair at the Paris School of Economics and Centennial professor at the London School of Economics new International Inequalities Institute...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionEconomist
Date of Birth7 May 1971
CountryFrance
Thomas Piketty quotes about
democratic-ideals luck inheritance
Our modern democratic ideal is based on the hope that inequalities will be based on merit more than inheritance or luck.
bottom destroy increase middle premise
My premise is not to tax to destroy the wealth of the wealthy; it's to increase the wealth of the bottom and the middle class.
capture democratic extreme harmful inequality lead mobility useless
You need some inequality to grow... but extreme inequality is not only useless but can be harmful to growth because it reduces mobility and can lead to political capture of our democratic institutions.
capital devours future itself output
Once constituted, capital reproduces itself faster than output increases. The past devours the future.
education inequality knowledge main pushing reduction toward
The main force pushing toward reduction in inequality has always been the diffusion of knowledge and the diffusion of education.
asking net permission property states system transform united
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.
education favor time
Yeah, I am in favor of migration. But I am also in favor of education. But at the same time, I am in favor of progressive taxation. I think we need all of this. I think we don't have to choose one.
aware broader economists history methods modest political pragmatic science social study
Economists should be modest and be aware that they are part of the broader social science community. We need to be pragmatic about the methods we use. When we need to do history, we should do history. When we need to study political science, we should study political science.
common compatible concentration democratic ensure forces good levels limit market sufficient themselves
Market forces and capitalism by themselves aren't sufficient to ensure the common good and to limit the concentration of wealth at levels that are compatible with democratic ideals.
freedom good market personal private promote property system
Private property and the market system are good not only to promote innovation and to promote growth; private property and the market system are good for our personal freedom.