In this WhoWhatWhy podcast, I talk with Harvard Law Professor John Coates who discusses his new book, "The Problem of Twelve," which warns against the alarming concentration of financial power in the U.S. Four index funds control 25% of the S&P 500, and along with dominant private equity firms and "too big to fail" banks, they wield outsized influence over the economy and politics. Coates argues that this lack of transparency and extreme concentration of power threatens not just the economy, but U.S. democracy itself.
Power Play: How Just 12 People Control America’s Economic Destiny: A conversation with John Coates
Sep 07, 2023
Talk Cocktail
Jeff Schechtman talks with authors, journalists, newsmakers and opinion shapers, and sheds light on the issues of the day, from local stories to national and international headlines and ideas.
Jeff Schechtman talks with authors, journalists, newsmakers and opinion shapers, and sheds light on the issues of the day, from local stories to national and international headlines and ideas.Listen on
Substack App
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube
Overcast
RSS Feed
Recent Episodes











