Why capitalism is the best economic system for lifting up people and societies

Over four years ago, Anne Bradley gave birth to her daughter, Bailey Grace, nine weeks premature.  After her delivery, Bailey spent five weeks in an incubator with a tiny tube that passed through her nose and down to her stomach to feed her.  Anne often wondered what she would have done if she lived somewhere like Bangladesh where the type of medical care we take for granted isn’t widely available.  She also thought about that tiny breathing tube and the people who conceived, designed, tested, made, and delivered it – people who almost certainly encounter mundane and frustrating things in their jobs and never get to see the impact of their work on folks like Anne and Bailey.

Anne is the Vice President of Economic Initiatives at the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics; teaches at Georgetown and George Mason Universities; and is the co-editor of two books including the recently-released Counting the Cost: Christian Perspectives on Capitalism.  She joins us to talk about the higher purpose and impact of our work, no matter how ordinary it may seem; and how capitalism, while imperfect, is the best system we’ve got for lifting up people and societies.

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

You have a personal role in our economic system, so be encouraged and joyfully serve others.

There is no mundane job in a market economy when God has called you to do it.

Market economies motivate people to innovate and profit by giving others something that helps them. 

FULL ANNE BRADLEY INTERVIEW

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For more information:  Counting the Cost: Christian Perspectives on Capitalism;  The Institute for Faith, Work & Economics

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Opening and closing music by Chris Tomlin, Your Grace Is Enough