How have economies such as Britain’s become so unequal? As Brett Christophers shows in his new book, Rentier Capitalism, a fundamental driver is the rise of rent-seeking, in which ownership of key types of scarce assets – land, intellectual property, natural resources, digital platforms – is dominated by a few unfathomably wealthy companies and individuals. Profits grow increasingly linked to having rather than doing. With profound lessons for other countries subject to rentier dominance, Christophers’ examination of the UK case is indispensable to those wanting not just to understand this insidious economic phenomenon but to overcome it.

Christophers joined us on Zoom to discuss rentier capitalism with PERC Director, Will Davies.