Chicago event- Beyond Efficiency: Economics, Culture, and the Values of Capitalism
How does statism impact culture? Does big government foster creativity in a society or stifle it? What myths must friends of liberty dispel to advance our cause?
Defenders of free enterprise often tout its success in satisfying people’s material needs. But this defense leaves capitalism open to the charge that its only virtue is to motivate efficient behavior, and that government is needed to balance the narrow focus of the marketplace and promote a more humane society. This critique resonates because the defenders of free enterprise do not mount a full defense of its virtues in broader social terms. Values play an important role in shaping human behavior, including people’s behavior in the marketplace. This was understood during the Scottish Enlightenment and in early economic thought, but, over time, economists focused overwhelmingly on rational calculation as the impetus for economic behavior, neglecting the importance of other motivating factors.
Join AFF-Chicago on March 28th (6-8 PM, Ontourage) for a presentation by Larry Kaufmann, executive director of the American Culture Institute. Larry will discuss how while efficiency is critical for enhancing living standards and creating economic opportunity, market economies depend on virtues beyond “mere prudence.” Understanding these virtues can help advocates mount a more robust defense of the merits of the free enterprise system.
What: Larry Kaufmann from the American Cultural Institute on creating a culture of liberty
Where: Ontourage, 157 W Ontario, Chicago
When: Wednesday, March 28th, 6-8 PM
Price: FREE for AFF members, $10 for non-members. Includes a drink ticket and snacks.
RSVP: chicago@americasfuture.org or on our Facebook event page
Tags: and the Values of Capitalism, Beyond Efficiency: Economics, Culture, larry kauffman
