Fe Balata

There's some wonderful writing from @febalata.bsky.social in this edition of Renewal, on how extreme wealth undermines democracy, blocks attempts at justice, and on how the fight against it has got to be a core priority of modern progressive politics.

New briefing out on “invisible wealth”: UK wealth has surged through asset price inflation, but the tax system still struggles to see it, let alone tax it fairly. The report digs into why that gap matters and what it would take to close it. #extremewealth
🔗 neweconomics.org/2026/01/taxi...

Systemic Colour: on discomfort, vulnerability, and structural change There is a moment, often brief, when the world stops settling easily.

The Epstein archive, taken seriously, is not a morality play. It is an exposure of how harm emerges from ordinary incentives interacting with extraordinary insulation. Have a read of my latest essay here: open.substack.com/pub/fernanda... #extremewealth

Absolute blockbuster of a new issue of @renewaljournal.bsky.social, edited by @morganj0nes.bsky.social @neilwarner.bsky.social and @beccagold.bsky.social which takes a big picture view of the past year and a half of Labour government.

LIVE from Bogotá — POR NUESTRA AMÉRICA YouTube video by Progressive International

Tune in to understand how international solidarity and concrete action to fight harms of extreme wealth and imperialism is happening in the Americas #nuestraamerica @progintl.bsky.social youtube.com/live/B01iBwh...

Don't miss this webinar on the role of local currency financing in reframing global economic governance and delivering debt, and climate justice. Excited to be speaking alongside these amazing people! Sign up 👇 @neweconomics.bsky.social

Great job opportunity to join the amazing NEF team in the UK 👇

South American Déjà Vu Venezuela, Gaza, and when the rules stop speaking

South America knows this feeling.
Not shock but recognition.
I wrote a long piece about Venezuela, Gaza, and what happens when rules keep speaking but stop intervening.
open.substack.com/pub/fernanda... #PoliticalEconomy #LatinAmerica

We're really proud to be part of this joint report with ‬
‪@neweconomics.bsky.social‬, @cesr.bsky.social, Institute for Econ Justice in South Africa and Transforma in Brazil.

With so much global upheaval, the world needs strong civil society solutions and solidarity.

Great discussion today with my co-authors of The G20 at a Crossroads. @sarahanderson.bsky.social @reyannaj.bsky.social @ips-dc.org Shikwane and Gilad at the Institute for Economic Justice, Marco at Transforma. TU @civicusalliance.bsky.social for hosting us! neweconomics.org/2025/11/the-...

If you are in Joburg / Johannesburg this Tuesday 18th November, please join for the launch of the report, we are being hosted by @civicusalliance.bsky.social and it will be a good time to think together about our global economic future. Sign up here docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

So yes, Billie’s comments and contributions matter. They open a door, and I hope they will be put to good use. But the real conversation is bigger: it’s about reclaiming democratic power and building systems that guarantee dignity for all.

The urgent priorities for a democratic future are progressive taxation, universal care and health, investment in people and the planet. We must value shared well being and everyone's work and contributions, not skewed extreme private accumulation.

We can’t build a sustainable, democratic society if decisions affecting majorities depend on whether wealthy individuals choose to fund them. That isn’t democracy, that’s dependency.

What people, families and communities need is institutionalised dignity: public resources and spaces not steered by private capital, affordable care, inclusive mobility, decent homes, healthy food. These should be guaranteed rights – not dependent on the occasional benevolence of the super rich.

But this conversation can’t stop at personal responsibility. Philanthropy hasn’t solved our social and economic ills. Our work on an Extreme Wealth Line shows that a real solution means asking whether anyone should control such disproportionate levels of the world’s resources in the first place.

Billie Eilish posed an important question more public figures should: “Why are you a billionaire?” It matters because it’s not just about lifestyle choices. Extreme wealth results from political choices, dominant social norms - we can change them. @neweconomics.bsky.social @patrioticmillionaires.org

Kamal Ramburuth from the Institute for Economic Justice in South Africa, introducing the issue of debt repayments in Africa at the T20 Summit. See @neweconomics.bsky.social report with IEJ and other international partners neweconomics.org/2025/11/the-...

The private sector has let our public services down again and again. So why do we assume the private sector is always the best person for the job? Because we don't value the expertise and competency of communities, says @francesnorthrop.bsky.social on the latest New Economics Podcast 🎙️

Text: The G20 at a crossroads. An independent assessment of the G20's impact, and lessons for an equitable economic future. With logos along the bottom of the image from the New Economics Foundation, Institute for Economic Justice, Institute for Policy Studies, Center for Economic and Social Rights, and Transforma.

NEW REPORT: As the G20 approaches its 20th summit, a new independent assessment finds it has failed to tackle inequality and deliver economic justice.

The report warns that the forum must do more than fight fires - it needs to reform a broken international system. 🧵1/7

Im so excited to put out this analysis done in true collaborative spirit with amazing colleagues across orgs. On my way to Joburg to launch the report and hoping to find hope by surrounding myself with those who refuse to give in or give up the fight. 👊🏽

Kick-starting #WBGMeetings w our @patrioticmillionaires.org CSPF event: Extreme wealth - How much is too much? A new measure for better economies, democracies and societies.

👉Wednesday, October 15th, 2025 @ 11-12:30pm DC in World Bank I Building 2-250
🖥️ Livestream: www.worldbank.org/en/events/20...

5⃣ At the World Bank Annuals, @patrioticmillionaires.org member @abigaildisney.bsky.social joined a panel including @neweconomics.bsky.social's Fernanda Balata to discuss how we can measure extreme wealth.

Extreme wealth is a global problem. We have global solutions.

In this week’s Closer Look, we explore how timely and dangerous that threat has become and what world leaders must do to confront it. patrioticmillionaires.org/perspectives...

When we talk about extreme wealth inequality, we need to recognize that historically, great wealth has caused great pain in this country.

Massive wealth accumulation seems to be unable to separate itself from cruelty. @abigaildisney.bsky.social

“I was born into wealth, and wealth just became more wealth. There is a thing as too much wealth, it’s bad for the world and it’s bad for those who own it, it’s alienating and morally corrosive." Abigail Disney at #IMFMeetings.

@patrioticmillionaires.org
@patmillsuk.bsky.social

"Extreme wealth has been driving inflation in housing prices, distorting democracy, locking in carbon, and fueling cross border tax abuse. There are many negative spillovers of high wealth inequality" - Political Economist Fernanda Balata at #IMFMeetings.

We are so grateful for members like @abigaildisney.bsky.social who are willing to share their experiences AND speak out about the extreme dangers extreme wealth poses to any society 💕

"One ethical reason for acknowledging that there is excessive wealth, is that its existence is starkly contrasted with the significant levels of poverty. As long as people live in extreme poverty, the presence of extreme wealth is morally unacceptable." - Nora Lustig at #IMFMeetings.

@febalata.bsky.social is now stressing the heuristic value of the Extreme Wealth Line and the importance of maximally opening up the debate on this topic.