by Dr. Doug Cardell

February 18, 2026

Sneak Preview #8: What Makes Capitalism Succeed?

Introduction

My new book, Why Socialism Struggles: Exposing the Economic Errors That Undermine Utopian Ideals, launched on January 20, 2026 — and it’s already an Amazon bestseller. If you’ve enjoyed the economic deep dives on DougCardell.com, you’ll find the book even more engaging. It expands on familiar themes and introduces entirely new material. This article is part of a series offering a sneak preview of the insights inside. Today, we explore Chapter 8: “What Makes Capitalism Succeed?”

It’s the Natural Way, Relying on Spontaneous Order

It’s the natural way. Capitalism relies on spontaneous order to regulate the economy rather than the government. This gives the consumers the power. They drive economic change through their purchasing. No one forces anyone to do anything. It is true freedom.

Free-market Capitalism Reduces Poverty

Free-market capitalism is responsible for the greatest increase in human well-being ever. Thanks to free markets and capitalist investors, worldwide extreme poverty is nearly eliminated and being reduced further every day.

Free-market Capitalism Is the Fairest System

Free markets steer clear of codependent relationships. Free markets don’t try to encourage or discourage consumer choices the way the government does. Free-market capitalism performs best when taxes are fair and equal. Capitalism rewards entrepreneurs for their efforts to improve the lives of everyone. People vote with their purchases, and that determines what gets produced. No one gets more influence than anyone else.

Capitalism→Progress→Change

Capitalism doesn’t put people out of work. However, the progress it creates sometimes alters the employment landscape, but everyone benefits in the long run. Capitalism means innovation and progress because it allows choices to trump voices. That means the choices people make are often at odds with what they are voicing. However, it is their choices that show how they truly express their values.

The Rich Pay More than Their Fair Share

It explains that the myth that the rich don’t pay their fair share of taxes is false. Using the analogy of hikers carrying packs, we learned that the rich are paying far more than their share. Everyone must carry their fair share of the burden in hiking or taxation.

Taxing Corporations Is Impossible

Then we exposed the detrimental effects of taxing corporations, which ultimately becomes a tax burden on consumers and harms the economy. This practice also provides an unfair advantage to foreign corporations exempt from the tax, further exacerbating the issue.

Free-market Capitalism Makes People More Equal

It explodes the lie that capitalism breeds inequality. Unlike what many believe, capitalism creates equality. It gives everyone a fair chance to create value for others and to profit from it. Free-market capitalism is, in fact, the great equalizer. It provides everyone with an equal opportunity to create value and potentially achieve prosperity. The government, however, often worsens inequality by meddling in the economy, causing the impacts of innovation to be sudden and disruptive, rather than gradual and adaptable.

Conclusion: Capitalism—the Economy of Hope!

Capitalism is an investment in the future. It is an economy of hope and applies to all choices. Exercise, education, saving, planting a garden, purchasing tools, buying a home, and anything else that looks to the future are capitalist activities.

I’m sure that reading this synopsis has inspired many questions that can best be answered by reading the book. In the next article, we will preview Chapter 9. If you're ready to order, you can do so now at 'Amazon', 'Barnes & Noble', 'Target', 'Apple', 'Kobo', and bookstores everywhere in a beautiful hardcover edition and a Kindle edition. Thanks so much for your continued support!