I'm delighted to welcome back Fred Harrison for a second appearance on Meeting People following the release of his new book Cheating: The Human Project and its Betrayal.
In it he argues that "the withdrawal of Rent from its social function is the root cause of the persistent collapse of civilisations".
We unpack this bold claim over the course of our conversation.
Across history, the benefits of progress (technological, economic or otherwise) have routinely become captured by Rent seekers. Working to earn a living or grow a business thereafter feels like running through treacle.
Optimists of the past would never have predicted that owning a home, starting a family and earning enough to cover a moderate living standard would be this hard in 2026.
250 years on from the publishing of Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations, Fred is optimistic that his ideas can show us the way out of this quagmire. The tiresome debate between Socialism versus Capitalism is a distraction. Cutting taxes, reducing debt levels, simplifying the planning system, deregulating, and promoting trade are necessary for treating the symptoms of this malaise but don't address the root problem. This is the seizure of what Smith termed Economic Rent.
Fortunately, economic collapse, modern poverty, and drudgery are not a foregone conclusion. Unless Rent is socialised, the free market can never flourish and we will be plagued by boom and bust cycles. Fred Harrison has committed his life to educating people on this this reality.
You can find out more about the book here: https://shepheardwalwyn.com/product/cheating-the-human-project-and-its-betrayal/
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