[bryanlarsen]

"Replacing a horse with a tractor with a horse" is 'g'. Any action that reduces the incentives of the next Henry Ford to create will reduce both 'r' and 'g', and have very little effect on the relationship between r & g. Piketty realizes this. It's the heirs of Henry Ford, who did nothing but get lucky in the genetic lottery, who have the most to worry from broad adoption of Piketty's book. It may be the actions of Bill Gates and everybody else who signs and propagates the giving pledge who do the most to prevent the doom that Piketty prophesies.