EconTube: The ultimate guide to pluralist economics channels on YouTube

It is difficult to overestimate the relevance of YouTube for shaping public opinion. The platform is also very important for educational purposes. It is therefore really fortunate that there are so many channels on YouTube that are dedicated to providing economic knowledge beyond the mainstream. Hence, we have compiled a selection of what we consider to be the most recommendable channels. While the following list only includes English-language programmes with various forms and perspectives, you can find further recommendations for German-language channels here.

New Economic Thinking (@NewEconomicThinking)

If we could only recommend one channel to you, it would probably be the channel New Economic Thinking from the Institute for New Economic Thinking. The channel offers a broad range in terms of both formats and content. It includes academic and educational content as well as various formats such as documentaries, animations and podcasts. Among these, the New Economic Thinking interviews are a particular highlight. These bring together the top stars of global economics and, despite their brevity, continuously offer not only the highest quality content, but also a corresponding aesthetic. Additionally, the channel offers a lot of content analysing the state of economics from a meta-perspective.

Money & Macro (@MoneyMacro)

Another recommendation is the channel Money & Macro by Joeri Schasfoort. The channel offers analyses of current economic and economic policy developments in a classic one-man-show influencer format. What stands out in particular is the host's dry humour and his ironic approach to the role of the economist, which is particularly evident in his no-bullshit reaction videos. The videos are appealing both in terms of content and aesthetics and are generally accessible despite their scientific approach.

Unlearning Economics (@unlearningeconomics9021)

The so-called BreadTube - the YouTube sub-space of the political left in the USA - also offers really cool economics content beyond the mainstream. In particular, the Unlearning Economics channel uses video essays to address fundamental economic topics in a way that is both aesthetically pleasing and easy to understand, but with a decidedly academic approach. His reflections and analyses on the state of economics as a profession are particularly worth watching.

Second Thought (@SecondThought)

The channel Second Thought, which is one of the most successful channels on BreadTube, should certainly not be missing from this list. Although the channel does not only offer economic content and generally has a more general educational focus than Unlearning Economics, it fits very well into this list. The channel repeatedly addresses economic policy topics such as MMT, the new planning debate or the connection between capitalism and climate change and presents them in an understandable and aesthetically appealing way for non-specialists.

Democracy at work (@democracyatwrk)

Much more 'old school' in terms of style and content, but nevertheless, or perhaps precisely because of this, worth a recommendation: the Democracy at Work channel. There you will find a combination of journalism, science communication and political education from a Marxist perspective. The channel not only features Richard Wolff and David Harvey, two of the world's most renowned heterodox economists. Moreover, the format 'Capitalism hits home' with Dr Harriet Fraad and an exciting selection of guests make the channel well worth watching.

Center for Popular Economics (@CenterforPopularEconomics)

Although unfortunatley no longer active, our absolute insider tip is the channel of the Centre for Popular Economics, which is produced by a group of Econ-PHDs from Amherst University. There you will find a real treasure trove of video essays with introductions to Marxist, institutionalist and feminist economics and dialectical thinking. Clearly the aesthetic champion of our small selection.