The World According to Jen & Carolyn

Disaster Capitalism: Profiting off of Pain

Jennifer Patricia and Carolyn Jay

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We don’t think anyone who is critical of our government or economic system would be surprised to learn that profiting off of tragedy is big business in the U.S. Disaster capitalism refers to a phenomenon in which businesses, governments, or other entities capitalize on disasters—whether natural (e.g., hurricanes, earthquakes, pandemics) or man-made (e.g., wars, economic crises)—to implement policies or practices that may exacerbate inequality or prioritize profit over public well-being. The term gained prominence through Naomi Klein's 2007 book The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, which critiques how crises have historically been used as opportunities to advance neoliberal economic agendas. Join Jen and Carolyn as they break down the sick economic strategy that amounts to profiting off of peoples’ pain and loss. 

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California Moves to Stop Predatory Sales of Fire-Stricken Homes - Business Insider

January 2025 Southern California wildfires - Wikipedia

Polymarket users are hoping to profit from the devastation in California, betting on how far the deadly fires will spread

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