Steve Keen is Professor of Economics at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, best known for his heterodox critique of neoclassical economics and his warnings about financial instability and private debt leading up to the 2008 global financial crisis.
“We've got the balance extremely wrong.”
A concise and provocative summation of the argument that current economic and societal models are fundamentally misaligned, designed to provoke deep reflection on systemic failures and the need for change.
Steve Keen
“I believe, knowing what I know from climate scientists, that at some point we're going to realize we're using far too much energy on the planet. We've got to cut the energy consumption, and the two easiest things to cut out to reduce energy consumption are cryptocurrencies and international travel.”
This presents a highly controversial economic and environmental argument, predicting the eventual decline of energy-intensive activities like Bitcoin and international travel due to climate imperatives.
Steve Keen
“Bitcoin is going to zero because of its reliance upon energy. Each transaction requires 10 minutes of computer processing time globally. We're going to realize we're using far too much energy on the planet, and the easiest things to cut are cryptocurrencies and international travel.”
A prominent economist makes a bold, contrarian prediction about Bitcoin's collapse based on fundamental energy consumption issues, challenging the core premise of its sustainability and value.
Steve Keen
“I think universal basic income is a necessity given what robotics and AI can do to employment.”
This statement advocates for universal basic income as an essential policy response to the widespread job displacement anticipated from advancements in AI and robotics, sparking considerable debate on economic and social models.
Steve Keen
“He's also helped get Trump elected. You've got to score that against him as well. His work on solar, power, and rocketry, I've absolutely admired that. But getting Trump elected, he played a major role in that. He should learn from that mistake and get out of politics.”
Offers a blunt, critical assessment of a prominent tech leader's political impact, separating their technological achievements from their societal influence.
Steve Keen
“The Americans have to realize they've lost, and they've got to negotiate the terms of reparation.”
This quote boldly challenges the conventional understanding of global power dynamics, suggesting a dramatic reversal where the United States is in a position of loss and needing to negotiate reparations.
Steve Keen
“America hasn't won a war since World War II. And even World War II was won by the Russians more so than the Americans. We have this picture of America as being this invincible military power, but it lost in Vietnam, it lost in Iraq, it lost in Afghanistan. America has failed in all of these.”
This highly provocative quote challenges the conventional narrative of American military prowess, arguing that the US has largely failed in modern conflicts and attributing WWII victory primarily to Russia.
Steve Keen
“I hope that happens. Because that takes out the nuclear option. We won't see nuclear war as a result of this, if the only nuclear weapons that we know exist in the Middle East are destroyed.”
This is a highly controversial and provocative statement advocating for a specific military outcome to prevent nuclear war, challenging conventional geopolitical stances.
Steve Keen
“Israel's trying to get rid of the Palestinians. And in that sense, Iran has been probably the major bulwark supporting the Palestinians to say, let the Palestinians survive, let the Palestinian people continue existing. And the Israelis have been pushing and pushing and pushing the Palestinians out. It's a hornet's nest. We've provoked a hornet's nest.”
Offers a highly critical and contentious perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Iran's involvement, framing the situation as a dangerous and escalating provocation.
Steve Keen
“To destroy Iran, you're going to have to use nuclear weapons. If that happens, we're all gone.”
This quote starkly outlines the catastrophic, globally destructive consequences of a specific geopolitical conflict, highlighting an existential risk.
Steve Keen