For too long, historian Sven Beckert argues, historians have depicted slavery as a non-capitalist "Southern pathology." In his new book, "Empire of Cotton," Beckert shows how slavery was actually at the very roots of modern American capitalism.

By Sven Beckert

Six years ago, during the fall of 2008, the financial world was unraveling. But the origins of the Great Recession weren't simply monetary; they were moral, argues University of Washington professor David Bosworth. And yet, virtual America continues to miss…

By David Bosworth

You've heard French economist Thomas Piketty talk about inequality and a global wealth tax to tap into the high rate of return on capital. The stock market is the source of much of that high-end wealth, and Piketty doesn't see…

By Paul Solman

Our regular Social Security columnist takes issue with French economist Thomas Piketty's inequality theory. Income inequality is real, he thinks, but it doesn't stem from the rich accumulating and hoarding ever more private wealth.

By Laurence Kotlikoff