Raj Patel

Author, Stuffed and Starved and The Value of Nothing: How to Reshape Market Society and Redefine Democracy

If economics is about choices, who gets to make them? Activist and academic Patel says that prices often mislead us, and he reveals the "hidden costs" of goods. To demonstrate his argument that the free market and corporations distort price and value, Patel suggests that the true price of a hamburger would be $200 if we factor in the hidden environment and health costs. He offers a controversial critique of our present political system and argues that to understand our current economic crisis, we need to rethink our very meaning of democracy by rebalancing society and limiting markets.

Location: Historic Hoover Theatre, 1635 Park Ave., San Jose
Time: 6:30 p.m. check-in, 7 p.m. program
Cost: $10 members, $15 non-members