Why Does Everything Feel Unaffordable?

What is at the root of the "affordability crisis"? Why does it feel like the majority of people are approaching a steep financial cliff? We consider these questions with the help of class analysis, taking on the topic of inflation and what it means about the balance of power between employees and firms. -------- The Marxist Project is a proud member of Means TV. You can now support our channel by following this link and subscribing Means TV's excellent collection of anti-capitalist media: https://means.tv/orders/customer_info... By using our code, MARXISTPROJECT, you will get a discount on the first month (or year!) of your subscription. -------- Narration, script, and editing by M. Animated intro by Jack, co-host of the Auxiliary Statements podcast @AuxStatements on Twitter. Intro music by Charles Tristan:  / charles-tristan   ------- Patreon:   / themarxistproject   Twitter:   / marxistproject   -------- 00:00 - 00:44 Overview 00:45 - 00:58 Intro 00:59 - 02:31 How is new value distributed? 02:32 - 03:14 Class conflict and power 03:15 - 03:57 Productivity and wages 03:58 - 04:29 Post-war stability 04:30 - 05:04 Clash of interests in capitalism 05:05 - 06:38 The rate of surplus value has grown 06:39 - 08:26 Inflation and the rate of surplus value 08:27 - 09:43 The way forward 09:44 - 10:29 Support Means TV