Milanovic rejects neoliberal revival, urging a new economic system
Executive summary: Milanovic, a prominent inequality scholar, said in a Le Monde interview that neoliberalism will not return and called for constructing a new economic system. His view challenges the prevailing market‑oriented paradigm and signals potential shifts in policy discourse toward more inclusive frameworks.
Who is involved: Branko Milanovic, Le Monde (interview), global economic policymakers
Likely next: The comment is expected to stimulate academic and governmental debates on alternative economic models and may influence upcoming policy proposals.
Branko Milanovic, a leading inequality scholar, stated in a Le Monde interview that neoliberalism will not return and called for constructing a new economic system. He linked current geopolitical shocks and Western decline to the need for restructuring global economic governance. The remarks were published on 14 June 2026 and invite policy discourse on inclusive growth.
What's next — scenarios
Intellectual Paradigm Shift (50%)
Increased demand for ESG and inclusive growth advisory services as policy frameworks move away from market deregulation.
- Mainstream policy papers adopting 'inclusive growth' terminology
- Rise in discussions regarding wealth tax frameworks in G7 summits
Geopolitical Fragmentation (30%)
Higher volatility in global supply chains as economic governance shifts from multilateralism to regional blocs.
- New bilateral trade agreements bypassing WTO
- Stricter capital controls in emerging markets
Stagnant Status Quo (20%)
Continued reliance on existing neoliberal frameworks despite social unrest, leading to higher political risk premiums.
- Re-election of austerity-focused administrations
- Failure of international economic summits to propose new governance models
What to watch
- G7 economic policy communiqués (July-August 2026)
- OECD reports on wealth inequality trends (Q3 2026)
- Central bank rhetoric on distributive fiscal policy (next 90 days)
Timeline
- — Branko Milanovic, économiste : « Il n’y aura pas de retour à l’idéologie néolibérale, il faut donc réfléchir à la construction d’un nouveau système » (Le Monde — Économie)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Increased academic conferences on post‑neoliberal economics
- Policy think‑tanks proposing new tax and welfare frameworks
- Media follow‑up pieces analyzing implications
Sectors affected
- Finance
- Policy
- Academia
- International Relations
Regulatory implications
- Discussion of tax reforms to address inequality
- Consideration of social welfare reforms to align growth with wellbeing
Historical parallels
- Post‑World War II Keynesian consensus
- The New Deal era’s restructuring of market rules
- The Bretton Woods shift toward coordinated macro‑policy