What does capitalism mainly create?
Huge production capacity (a lot of goods/services can be produced).
How does investment increase production?
Investment → more resources → more production.
How does competition affect production?
Competition creates productivity pressure (people/firms must produce more/better/cheaper).
Why do specialisation + division of labour boost production?
People focus on one task → become faster/better → output increases.
What is the link between mass production and mass consumption?
Mass production needs mass consumption to sell all the output.
What is capitalism driven by?
Profit, not well-being as the priority.
Why can capitalism still have big social problems?
Because profit is the main goal, it doesn’t automatically solve inequality or societal issues.
What’s the chain “Profits → markets → competition” saying?
Profit-seeking pushes market expansion, which intensifies competition.
Explain the quote: “Capitalism opened the gates to the land of plenty, but capitalism alone cannot sustain it.”
Capitalism can create “plenty” (lots of production), but it doesn’t guarantee fair distribution, well-being, or moral limits - so other institutions/rules are needed.
What is an overproduction crisis?
When the system produces “too much” to sell profitably.
Why is overproduction bad for profits?
Too much supply → prices drop / goods don’t sell → profits fall.
What key problem links overproduction and society ?
Uneven distribution: people may need goods, but can’t afford/access them.
What’s the paradox: “many people need those products, yet we have ‘too much’”?
There’s enough goods, but not enough purchasing power/access for those who need them.
What does “They exist in constant tension with other social institutions” mean?
Markets often clash with values/institutions like community, politics, morality, family, education, etc
What does “Time is scarce → society makes us believe this” mean?
Scarcity isn’t only real—it’s reinforced culturally (pressure to always be productive)
Why might people fear taking PTO?
Fear of looking unproductive, missing promotions, or falling behind.
How does competition connect to PTO stress?
Competitive expectations can make rest feel risky (“I’ll lose out”).
Give an example of “systems clash” from your notes.
PTO (rest) vs competition/expectations (always performing).
What is a trade-off?
Choosing one thing means giving up another (opportunity cost).
What’s a simple example of a trade-off here?
Taking PTO → rest gained, but maybe fewer opportunities/visibility at work.
What makes market growth a problem?
Maximisation (pushing “more” into everything).
What does “constrain markets = constrain competition” mean?
If you regulate markets, you also limit how far competition can go.
What’s the role of government regulation in your notes?
To keep markets controlled (limit harmful expansion).
What is the cause of commodification in your notes?
Market triumphalism.
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Financial Bubbles11
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Session 01: Systemic & Critical Thinking20
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Session 02: Systemic Thinking22
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Session 03: Systemic Thinking35
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Session 04: Systemic Thinking26
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Session 05: Systemic Thinking9
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Session 06: Systemic Thinking20
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Session 07: Systemic Thinking8
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Session 08: Systemic Thinking19
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Session 09: Systemic Thinking8
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Session 10: Systemic Thinking16
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Readings & Authours9
