What if businesses were owned by the people —
Workers, farmers, customers and communities — instead of investors seeking maximum returns?
In recent decades, ownership of American businesses has shifted away from their active participants and towards passive, external investors whose primary objective is maximizing returns regardless of who is affected.
We have a different vision.
About Us
Meet Hans Taparia and Bruce Buchanan, NYU professors and authors of People’s Capitalism
Media & Conversations
Watch Hans and Bruce discuss People’s Capitalism in interviews, podcasts, and conversations
Latest Essays
Subscribe to the People’s Capitalism Substack for essays and conversations on building an economy owned by the people
The Upcoming BookPeople’s Capitalism
How People-Owned Businesses Beat Investor-Owned Businesses
Core Principles of People’s Capitalism
____
Ownership in Action
Something profound happens when workers, farmers, customers and communities — not external investors — own and control the businesses they participate in
Broad-Based Prosperity
In such a world, incomes rise, prices fall, health outcomes improve and communities and the natural environment are treated with respect.
Dignity, Community & Agency
In such a world, businesses create livelihoods with meaning, help bring communities together, and offer participants freedom, agency, and dignity.
It Can Be Done
Using a variety of market mechanisms and policy levers, ownership and control of many businesses can be converted to participant-owned.
It’s Already Amongst Us
People-owned businesses are all around us. See below for real-world examples of businesses that are owned and controlled by the people at the heart of their success.
____
People’s Capitalism is already amongst us.
People-owned businesses are all around us. See below for real-world examples of businesses that are owned and controlled by the people at the heart of their success.
Pachamama Coffee
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
America’s first coffee chain owned by coffee farmers in Latin America and Africa. Farmer-owners report making 40x the profits over selling to Starbucks.
FARMER-OWNED
CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Walden Mutual Bank
The first depositor-owned bank started in America in nearly 50 years. Depositor-owned banks have a lower failure rate than investor-owned banks, and Walden pays six times the national savings rate through interest and savings on fees.
DEPOSITOR-OWNED
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Detroit People’s Food Coop
The community of North End in Detroit launched a customer-owned healthy grocery store in 2024 sourcing from “gangster” urban farmers and owned by 4000 members.
SHOPPER-OWNED
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CARMEL, INDIANA
TVF Fabrics
TVF Fabrics employees bought the company from its founder in 2010. By 2020, each employee had increased their net worth by four to five times their respective salaries.
EMPLOYEE-OWNED