George Monbiot

economic justice

Enough Already
There is no point at which those who accumulate money become satisfied. Read more – ‘Enough Already’.
Stunt Man
Our record-breaking petition has been dismissed as a stunt by the minister it targets. But it has a serious purpose. Read more – ‘Stunt Man’.
Line of Battle
The line that separates the public from the private sphere is arbitrary, but fiercely policed. Read more – ‘Line of Battle’.
Smart Phones, Dumb Companies
17 years, and the phone companies still haven’t sorted out the issue of conflict minerals Read more – ‘Smart Phones, Dumb Companies’.
A Telling Silence
Why we need land value taxation. Read more – ‘A Telling Silence’.
Bang Goes the Theory
How neoliberalism trashed your life, but made the super-rich even richer. Read more – ‘Bang Goes the Theory’.
The Fat of the Land
Robbing the poor, trashing the natural world: Europe’s farm subsidies are an obscenity. Read more – ‘The Fat of the Land’.
Romnesia
A potent myth is being used to justify economic capture by a parasitic class. Read more – ‘Romnesia’.
After Capitalism
An animation calling for economic democracy. Read more – ‘After Capitalism’.
Scorched Earth Economics
Why have the Year Zero policies of neoliberalism not been abandoned? Read more – ‘Scorched Earth Economics’.
The Great Pay Robbery
Here’s why the government’s proposals on executive pay won’t work – and why we need a maximum wage. Read more – ‘The Great Pay Robbery’.
Big Farmer
The poorest taxpayers are subsidising the richest people in Europe: and this spending will remain uncut until at least 2020. Read more – ‘Big Farmer’.
The Corporate Welfare State
Despite the crisis, it’s still socialism for the 1%, capitalism for the rest. Read more – ‘The Corporate Welfare State’.
The Self-Attribution Fallacy
Intelligence? Talent? No, the ultra-rich got to where they are through luck and brutality. Read more – ‘The Self-Attribution Fallacy’.
Wealth Destroyers
The Corporation of the City of London has harmed you more than you know. Read more – ‘Wealth Destroyers’.
Sounding the Deeps
If this analysis is correct, a Great Depression is all but inevitable. Read more – ‘Sounding the Deeps’.
More Cuts Please
The government is burning the money that could save public services. Read more – ‘More Cuts Please’.
Out of the Ashes
Now is the time to start planning for a new economy, not dependent on growth. Read more – ‘Out of the Ashes’.
How the Billionaires Broke the System
The US deficit reduction plan makes no sense – until you remember who’s behind the Tea Party movement. Read more – ‘How the Billionaires Broke the System’.
What We Are For
The movements opposing the British government need a set of aims: here’s my attempt at a first draft. Read more – ‘What We Are For’.
Response to Robert Peston
Does the BBC’s business editor need a crash course in tax? Read more – ‘Response to Robert Peston’.
Stripped Bare
Shocking new financial manouevres by the British government show who it’s really working for. Read more – ‘Stripped Bare’.
A Corporate Coup d’Etat
You thought elections counted for something? Look at what wasn’t in the manifesto. Read more – ‘A Corporate Coup d’Etat’.
Bonus Balls
A leaked document, published exclusively on monbiot.com, shows that the government has been secretly protecting bankers’ bonuses. Read more – ‘Bonus Balls’.
How the Treasury Deceived Us
This is the text of the leaked document referred to in Bonus Balls. Read more – ‘How the Treasury Deceived Us’.
Another One Bites the Dust
According to the latest smear campaign, I’m the new Howard Hughes. Sorry to disappoint you. Read more – ‘Another One Bites the Dust’.
Ground 56%
The government has abandoned its sustainable homes policy – by redefining zero. Read more – ‘Ground 56%’.
The UK’s Odious Debts
Many PFI deals were undemocratic and against the national interest. It’s time we stopped honouring them. Read more – ‘The UK’s Odious Debts’.
The Lax Tax Pact
How Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs surrendered to the tax avoiders Read more – ‘The Lax Tax Pact’.
Britain’s Shock Doctrine
The economic crisis is the disaster the Conservatives have been praying for. Now they can reshape the economy on corporate lines. Read more – ‘Britain’s Shock Doctrine’.
Ridleyed With Errors
Matt Ridley only digs his hole deeper as he attempts to justify his distortions. Read more – ‘Ridleyed With Errors’.
Bogus, Misdirected and Effective
The Tea Party movement is steeped in misinformation and denial. But it has a lot to teach the left. Read more – ‘Bogus, Misdirected and Effective’.
The Man Who Wants to Northern Rock the Planet
Matt Ridley’s irrational theories remain unchanged by his own disastrous experiment. Read more – ‘The Man Who Wants to Northern Rock the Planet’.
The German Disease
The scheme for supporting renewables that the UK is importing from Germany has been a disaster there. Read more – ‘The German Disease’.
Treachery or Common Sense?
I’m being hounded for taking a stand against feed-in tariffs: here’s a riposte to the critics. Read more – ‘Treachery or Common Sense?’.
A Great Green Rip-Off
The feed-in tariffs about to be introduced here are extortionate, useless and deeply regressive. Read more – ‘A Great Green Rip-Off’.
Bleak Havens
How the ultra-rich enslave themselves Read more – ‘Bleak Havens’.
The Population Myth
People who claim that population growth is the big environmental issue are shifting the blame from the rich to the poor Read more – ‘The Population Myth’.
Toxic Assets
The Trafigura scandal is just one of thousands of cases of the rich world’s fly-tipping Read more – ‘Toxic Assets’.
The Great Cop-Out
Impeded by Gordon Brown, the G20 has decided that bankers won’t be properly regulated. Read more – ‘The Great Cop-Out’.
Outsourcing Unrest
The 300 year colonial adventure is over at last, which is why Britain is in political crisis. Read more – ‘Outsourcing Unrest’.
The Biggest, Weirdest Rip-Off Yet
The widening of the M25 is a private finance initiative scheme that requires little private finance. Or initiative. Read more – ‘The Biggest, Weirdest Rip-Off Yet’.
A Better Way to Make Money
Here’s how we could solve the credit crunch without giving anything to the banks. Read more – ‘A Better Way to Make Money’.
Pin-Striped Pirates
Why does the UK retain a handful of colonies? To destroy the world’s taxation systems. Read more – ‘Pin-Striped Pirates’.
Clearing Up This Mess
John Maynard Keynes had the answer to the crisis we’re now facing; but it was blocked and then forgotten. Read more – ‘Clearing Up This Mess’.
This Is What Denial Does
The economic crisis is petty by comparison to the nature crunch. But they have the same cause. Read more – ‘This Is What Denial Does’.
Congress Confronts Its Contradictions
They baled out of the bail-out, but the money will still have to come from us. It always has. Read more – ‘Congress Confronts Its Contradictions’.
Green Lifeline
A radical new idea could save the world’s ecosystems. But what will it do to the economy? Read more – ‘Green Lifeline’.
An Exchange of Souls
As government documents show, Sir Nicholas Stern accidentally launched a trade in human lives. Read more – ‘An Exchange of Souls’.
Three Million Homes?
Yes, I am sorry to say, we need them. Read more – ‘Three Million Homes?’.
Libertarians are the True Social Parasites
Matt Ridley raged against the government – until he needed £16 billion Read more – ‘Libertarians are the True Social Parasites’.
How Did We Get Into This Mess?
Many of our current crises are the long-term results of a meeting which took place 60 years ago Read more – ‘How Did We Get Into This Mess?’.
The Emperor of Africa
Tony Blair cannot let go of Britain’s inordinate global powers Read more – ‘The Emperor of Africa’.
Selling Indulgences
The trade in carbon offsets is an excuse for business as usual Read more – ‘Selling Indulgences’.
Britain’s Most Selfish People
Owning a second home during a housing crisis ensures that other people are homeless. Read more – ‘Britain’s Most Selfish People’.
Property Paranoia
Wealth is beginning to reduce our freedoms Read more – ‘Property Paranoia’.
The Man Who Betrayed the Poor
Even as the G8 promises fall apart, Geldof stays silent Read more – ‘The Man Who Betrayed the Poor’.
Bards of the Powerful
Far from challenging the G8′s role in Africa’s poverty, Geldof and Bono are legitimising its power. Read more – ‘Bards of the Powerful’.
Spin, Lies and Corruption
The G8’s debt reduction plan is little better than an extortion racket Read more – ‘Spin, Lies and Corruption’.
A Game of Double Bluff
The UK and EU are keeping the poorer nations exactly where they want them: beholden to their patrons Read more – ‘A Game of Double Bluff’.
A Restraint of Liberty
Climate change’s unprecedented moral challenge demands that we restrict market freedom Read more – ‘A Restraint of Liberty’.
Paid-up Members
How can MPs represent us when they earn up to 95% of their income from outside interests? Read more – ‘Paid-up Members’.
Fraud and Corruption
Where has Iraq’s money gone? Read more – ‘Fraud and Corruption’.
Punitive – And It Works
Sweden proves the neoliberals wrong about how to slash poverty. Read more – ‘Punitive – And It Works’.
A Scandal of Secrecy and Collusion
Why have we paid £93m for a £15m bridge? Read more – ‘A Scandal of Secrecy and Collusion’.
Expose the Tax Cheats
The best way of dealing with tax avoidance is to publish everyone’s returns. Read more – ‘Expose the Tax Cheats’.
Goodbye, Kind World
We’ve never had it so good, and we never will again. Read more – ‘Goodbye, Kind World’.
The Immigrants the Tabloids Love
The rightwing campaign against economic migrants may not be as irrational as it appears. Read more – ‘The Immigrants the Tabloids Love’.
The Philosophy of Cant
Europe wrecked the world trade talks, but it may accidentally have forced the poor world to assert its power. Final installment of the series on trade. Read more – ‘The Philosophy of Cant’.
Whose Side Are You On?
Some of those calling for changes in the way we trade are working against the interests of the poor. This is the second of a three-part series on trade. Read more – ‘Whose Side Are You On?’.
Universal Fair Trade
We need a global trading regime which permits only the nice guys to survive. Read more – ‘Universal Fair Trade’.
Le Monde, C’est Nous
At the world trade summit next week, the rich world will ensure that the poor world stays that way. This is the first of a three-part series on trade Read more – ‘Le Monde, C’est Nous’.
Stealing Nations
The International Monetary Fund does not make its “mistakes” by accident. Read more – ‘Stealing Nations’.
I Was Wrong About Trade
“Localisation” is both destructive and unjust Read more – ‘I Was Wrong About Trade’.
Enslaved by Free Trade
The West became rich by ignoring patent rules and protecting its industries. Poor countries should be allowed to do the same. Read more – ‘Enslaved by Free Trade’.
Rich in Imagination
The figures which purport to show that the world’s poor are emerging from poverty don’t add up Read more – ‘Rich in Imagination’.
The Bottom Dollar
The way to check American power is to support the euro Read more – ‘The Bottom Dollar’.
Left Behind to Starve
A humanitarian disaster is engulfing Africa as cash is poured into the war with Iraq and its aftermath Read more – ‘Left Behind to Starve’.
Deliver Us from Finity
Capitalism is not even mathematically possible, let alone biologically viable Read more – ‘Deliver Us from Finity’.
What Do We Really Want?
The richer we are, the more miserable we become. Read more – ‘What Do We Really Want?’.
White Lies
African leaders will be forced to humble themselves at the G8 summit, by taking the blame for what has happened to their continent Read more – ‘White Lies’.
Patent Nonsense
Nothing exposes the hollowness of the claims corporations now make to intellectual property as much as their own histories Read more – ‘Patent Nonsense’.
Making Generosity Redundant
Our global institutions are destined to fail. They need to be replaced. Read more – ‘Making Generosity Redundant’.
Dig Up the Roads
Local economies will prosper only by cutting their global links Read more – ‘Dig Up the Roads’.
There Is No Debt
The Third World “debt” is simply an accounting device Read more – ‘There Is No Debt’.
The Billion-Dollar Bonus
We Need a Global Maximum Wage Read more – ‘The Billion-Dollar Bonus’.
The Rich Walk Away
It’s time for a global corporation tax Read more – ‘The Rich Walk Away’.
Mortal Injustice
The countries least responsible for global warming will be hit hardest Read more – ‘Mortal Injustice’.
Cannibal Feast
By buying second homes all over Britain, the rich are preying on the lives of the poor Read more – ‘Cannibal Feast’.
Move the Capital to Newcastle
It’s the only way to bridge Britain’s disastrous divisions Read more – ‘Move the Capital to Newcastle’.
A Murderous Conspiracy
The US government is trying to destroy South Africa’s AIDS prevention programme Read more – ‘A Murderous Conspiracy’.
Inequality Before the Law
The powerful enjoy immunity, while the law treats the powerless ever more harshly Read more – ‘Inequality Before the Law’.
Slave Labour
Cutting benefits will undermine society Read more – ‘Slave Labour’.
Sold Down the River
50 per cent of all the new homes in central and inner London are being sold to speculators in the Far East Read more – ‘Sold Down the River’.
The Corporate Dole Queue
Britain’s corporations are living off state handouts Read more – ‘The Corporate Dole Queue’.
A War Against the Poor
New housing plans are shutting the poor out of the South-East of England Read more – ‘A War Against the Poor’.
Building on Sand
Hong Kong’s financial difficulties are partly due to land speculation. Britain has the same unhealthy patterns Read more – ‘Building on Sand’.
Stealing from the Poor
The superstores are bigger criminals than the shoplifters Read more – ‘Stealing from the Poor’.
Warm Words, but no Action
30,000 old people are dying of cold each year, and the Government does nothing Read more – ‘Warm Words, but no Action’.
Home not Domes!
Read more – ‘Home not Domes!’.
Lagging Behind
The thousands of extra deaths each winter are just one symptom of a massive national housing crisis Read more – ‘Lagging Behind’.
Theft Is Property
If MPs really want to repeal the statute of limitations, they’ll find themselves in deeper water than they think Read more – ‘Theft Is Property’.