About the Author
Ruchir Sharma is the Chairman of Rockefeller International and Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Breakout Capital, an investment firm focused on emerging markets. He moved to Rockefeller after a 25-year career at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, where he was Head of Emerging Markets and Chief Global Strategist. Sharma has received numerous accolades for his work, including being named one of the top global thinkers by Foreign Policy in 2012 and one of the world’s “50 Most Influential People” by Bloomberg in 2015.
In his newest book, What Went Wrong with Capitalism, Sharma illustrates how a century of expanding government has distorted financial markets, stoked massive inequality, and soaked America in debt. He argues that progressives are right, in part, when they mock modern capitalism as “socialism for the rich.” Government intervention and bailout culture have fueled the rise of monopolies, “zombie” firms, and billionaires. They have made capitalism less fair and less efficient, resulting in expensive state guarantees for everyone.
In his keynotes, Sharma expertly explains how capitalism does not work for the average modern American, but mostly favors the wealthy. He takes audiences step-by-step through the history of capitalism’s ruin, and outlines the lofty, but possible, solutions to its collapse. He offers important insights into our current economic situation while sharing hope for a more effective and equitable future.
Sharma is a contributing editor at the Financial Times. His work has also appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, The Atlantic, The Guardian, and Foreign Policy. He had also written the international and New York Times bestselling books Breakout Nations, The Rise and Fall of Nations, Democracy on the Road, and The 10 Rules of Successful Nations. He travels extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad for his work and speaking engagements, meeting with CEOs, leading politicians, and experts. His other interests include running, especially 100- and 200-meter sprints. In 2011, he represented India in the World Masters Athletic championship in Sacramento. He splits his time between New York City and Miami.
Raves and Reviews
Praise for What Went Wrong with Capitalism:
Ruchir Sharma is unparalleled! He uses a wealth of facts, data, and history to put forward brilliant, thought-provoking commentary.”
—Fareed Zakaria, CNN host
Ruchir Sharma stands apart because he is not ideologically driven. This fresh and accessible analysis of the issues confronting capitalism should be read by all sides.”
—Robert Rubin, former Secretary of the Treasury and chairman of Citigroup
Ruchir Sharma has written a stimulating and surprising book that will challenge readers across the political spectrum. Just as you think he is heading off in a familiar direction pointing to the government as villain or the free market as savior, he swerves. His prescriptions create some surprising bedfellows in the fight against the concentration of economic and political power and for a new round of creative destruction—of a kind that can reduce inequality and increase opportunity.”
—Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO, New America
This book will reshape how you think about the world. It is bound to provoke people on both the left and the right.”
—Larry Summers, former Secretary of the Treasury
A blunt broadside against the welfare state of finance. It will make the right kind of enemies.”
—James Grant, founder and editor, Grant’s Interest Rate Observer
In his timely and consequential book, Ruchir Sharma chronicles the government bailouts, interventions, and machinations that have brought America to this hinge point in history. His message to policymakers: Try capitalism, the real kind.”
—Kevin Warsh, former member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors
I was delighted to read Ruchir Sharma’s What Went Wrong With Capitalism. A plea for fiscal sanity, for true competition, and against crony capitalism, it is exactly the message our world needs to hear. I am not sure there will be a more correct book this year.”
—Tyler Cowen, the Holbert L. Harris Chair of Economics at George Mason University and co-author of the Marginal Revolution blog
At a moment at which democracy and free markets are under intense challenge all over the world, we are lucky that the brilliant and incomparable Ruchir Sharma has brought us a characteristically original and provocative book that tells us how to understand the ways that capitalism is falling badly short. Everyone should read, absorb and debate Sharma’s wise arguments.”
—Michael Beschloss, historian and author of the New York Times’s bestsellers Presidents of War and Presidential Courage
Praise for The Ten Rules of Successful Nations:
Sharma’s new book is filled with amazing data…fascinating insights and revealing anecdotes; this is quite simply the best guide to the global economy today. Whether you are an observer or an investor, you cannot afford to ignore it.”
― Fareed Zakaria
Instead of pious statements about poverty, or portentous mutterings on the importance of American leadership, Mr. Sharma sees the world from the ruthless and restless perspective of an investor.”
― Economist
Ruchir Sharma is a shrewd and thoughtful observer of emerging markets. His insights deserve the attention of all who care about the future of the global economy.”
― Lawrence H. Summers
Lively and informative.”
― Martin Wolf, Financial Times
Sharma’s mission is as ambitious as it is well-executed. A mix of humble pragmatism and daring decisiveness make his tips compelling and credible.” ― Katrina Hamlin, Reuters
A vital guide to the new economic order.”
― Rana Foroohar, Time
In the Media
“Why Markets Like to See New Political Faces”
June 17, 2024
“Missing: India’s Third Modi Wave”
May 20, 2024
“The Overstimulated Superpower”
April 21, 2024
“Role of government has expanded, says Ruchir Sharma”
June 12, 2024
“Sharma: In Every Crisis, Bailouts Get Bigger”
June 14, 2024
“Markets Are ‘Levitating.’ The Reasons Why Are Worrying.”
June 12, 2024
“India shouldn’t take its strong growth for granted. Ruchir Sharma explains why”
May 23, 2024
“On GPS: How elections in 2024 could shape democracy around the globe”
January 7, 2024
