On Friday afternoons, we bring you the best of our blog and the best of the web. This week’s roundup includes a video tackling the myth that free enterprise hurts the poor; a series from the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics on poverty and wealth; and more!
1. Does free enterprise hurt the poor? Arthur Brooks of AEI describes how free enterprise is the only system that truly helps the poor around the world.
2. The Institute for Faith, Work & Economics has an excellent series this week on poverty and the church. Dr. Glenn Sunshine explores what the Bible says about poverty and wealth, and he then writes on government’s role in helping the poor.
3. Capitalism Is Peaceful: Isaac Morehouse continues his series on the morality of capitalism with his thoughts on how free markets promote peace.
The simplest way in which capitalism is peaceful is by its abstention from direct acts of violence. Free markets offer no positive prescription for what market participants must do. A genuine capitalist system is one of free trade and voluntary association. People are free to do, in the words of Leonard Read, “Anything that’s peaceful.” There are no “do’s,” and the only real “don’t” at bottom is, “don’t use force.” All else is permitted, but there is no guarantee the market will sustain or reward it.4. Economic Freedom in 60 Seconds: This video shows the difference between living in the most economically free countries and living in the least free countries. 5. The RJ Moeller Show: Rev. Robert Sirico and Jordan Ballor: This week RJ talks with Rev. Robert Sirico, president of the Acton Institute, about his new book, “Defending the Free Market: The Moral Case For A Free Economy.” RJ then talks with Caroline May of the Daily Caller about the news you may have missed in the last week. Finally, Jordan Ballor of the Acton Institute joins the show. Tune in!
