Buoyed by statistics showing growth in many key countries, capitalist commentators are once again optimistically predicting that “green shoots of recovery” are blossoming for the world economy. But with this empirical attitude comes an incredible hubris – for none of the fundamental contradictions have been resolved. The system remains riddled with crisis.

The board game Monopoly is a useful tool for understanding the transformation of ‘free market’ capitalism into monopoly capitalism. Under socialism, the monopolies can be nationalised and run for the benefit of the whole of society – not a tiny handful of capitalists.

Universal basic income (or UBI), an unconditional payment to all citizens, has become part of the economic zeitgeist in recent times, embraced by advocates on both the Left and the Right as a solution to the symptoms and sores of the crisis-ridden capitalist system. But who is actually raising the proposal – and in whose interest?