The Capitalist Manifesto

Why the Global Free Market Will Save the World

By: Johan Norberg

Narrated by: Mark Elstob

Marx and Engels were right when they observed in the Communist Manifesto that free markets had in a short time created greater prosperity and more technological innovation than all previous generations combined. A century and a half later, all the evidence shows that capitalism has lifted millions and millions from hunger and poverty.

Today's story about global capitalism, shared by right-wing and left-wing populists, but also by large sections of the political and economic establishment, does not deny that prosperity has been created, but it says it ended up in far too few hands. This in turn has made it popular to talk about the global economy as a geopolitical zero-sum game, where we have to fight to control new innovations, introduce trade barriers and renationalise value chains. While, more broadly, capitalism is accused of fuelling glaring inequality, populist revolts, climate change and China's global conquest.

In this incisive and passionate investigation, Johan Norberg instead states the case for capitalism and the vital role played by the free market in today's uncertain world. Ultimately, he argues that that a move away from global capitalism would not only squeeze the growth out of the economy but also deepen an already large social exclusion for the vulnerable—for the world's poor, it would be a killing blow.

©2023 Johan Norberg (P)2023 W. F. Howes Ltd

Good intro to why capitalism is good

An excellent book to introduce someone to capitalism. It nicely refutes the many anti-capitalism myths and talks about the many positive effects of capitalism. He even gets environmentalism right by pointing out the need for polluters to compensate those negatively affected by their pollution.

The author does a great job negating common misconceptions about Capitalism.

The author uses many real world examples on how capitalism enriches the world, despite the claim of politicians and social elitists.

Should be required reading

Mr. Norbert spends the majority part of the book to expertly explain how the world has improved and the reasons why. The last chapter seeks to explain philosophical superiority of capitalism.

An economic system worth fighting for

This book comes at a critical point when the Zeitgeist is heavily and openly anti-Capitalist. Arming yourself with knowledge, data and history and the disastrous outcomes of communism and socialism in the last century and a half is the best way to deal with the seeming daily criticism of free markets and open societies.

great book

Great listen, and expanded my mind on free market capitalism. But at the beginning they're a big mistake on numbers. they say the middle class makes from $35,000 to $100,000 a MONTH, not a year. and repeat that a few times.