Rentier Capitalism: An Analysis of Power and Scarcity

This article provides a thorough analysis of contemporary rentier capitalism, moving beyond the archaic image of the rentier as a passive earner. Drawing on the work of Brett Christophers, the author deconstructs the mechanisms of power over cash flows that stem from the ownership of key assets rather than from real production. The text explores in detail the concept of "artificial scarcity" and the role of the state in securing monopolistic market positions through regulation and intellectual property. The reader will learn about the typology of rents—from platform to financial—and how barriers to entry and infrastructure control stifle innovation, transforming the economy into a system based on a model of recurring income from ownership rather than real value creation.