UnHerd with Freddie Sayers Quinn Slobodian on crack-up capitalism
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Mar 30, 2023 Quinn Slobodian, a historian and professor at Wellesley College, explores the precarious state of modern capitalism. He discusses the rise of special economic zones and their impact on democracy, emphasizing tensions between political freedoms and economic efficiency. The conversation shifts to 'CEO democracy,' critiquing how business principles infiltrate governance. Slobodian also examines anarcho-capitalism and its historical roots, along with the implications of tech companies gaining governance-like power, questioning our future freedom in an increasingly fractured landscape.
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China Emulated Hong Kong With Shenzhen
- China created Shenzhen and special economic zones by emulating Hong Kong's ring-fenced model.
- That success later allowed China to absorb Hong Kong while reducing its existing civil freedoms.
Singapore Model Is Interventionist, Not Purely Libertarian
- 'Singapore on Thames' visions mix pro-market openness with heavy government intervention and public spending.
- Slobodian notes Singapore's success relied on social housing, sovereign funds, and courting corporate clients.
Treat Freeport Promises With Healthy Skepticism
- Scrutinize freeport promises because politicians often avoid the full deregulation they imply.
- Expect repeated recycling of 40-year-old freeport ideas without the funding needed to succeed.
