These days it’s popular in some circles to be very critical of capitalism and free enterprise. In fact, some polling data shows a decline in American voters’ support for capitalism. But the polarization around America’s economic system is actually harming our ability to advance a principled and pragmatic approach to economic opportunity.

American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Beth Akers joins the show to rebut the overly simplistic “capitalism vs. socialism” polarized framing you usually hear. In this episode, you’ll be equipped with the best approach to acknowledge capitalism’s shortcomings, while still being a firm defender of our free enterprise system.

Before joining AEI, Dr. Akers worked as a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a visiting research scholar at the Federal Reserve Board, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, and a staff economist at the Council of Economic Advisers under President George W. Bush.

Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, by equipping listeners to become more effective champions of sound principle and good policy. Visit defendingideas.org.