Understanding Economy is Essential
The United States of America has a unique economic system. It’s called Capitalism, and it’s been around for more than 200 years. It was first brought to North America by European settlers, who started trading in the 1620s.
That’s when Europeans imported their new ideas about how society works: from their countries. They came to our country, which at that time included everything from Florida to New York. And they began to put those ideas into practice on this land.
In his book “A Capitalist Manifesto,” economics professor Richard Wolff says three basic rules: competition, private ownership, and free exchange under Capitalism. According to these principles, businesses must compete against each other to sell their goods and services to consumers.
This means that all producers get paid according to their efficiency. No producer gets special favors or tax breaks.
But while Capitalism is known for treating everyone equally, it does have a history of inequality.
Why is the USA a capitalist country?
The US was founded by capitalists who believed that free enterprise creates wealth.
They felt that private ownership of land, capital, and labor should be respected. And they thought that competition among companies should be encouraged.
These beliefs have shaped our economic system. Today, we still believe that these ideas will lead to prosperity.
But there are critics of Capitalism. Some say that Capitalism leads to inequality because only rich people own big companies. Others argue that Capitalism doesn’t work because it encourages Greediness.
How does Capitalism work in the United States?
Let’s take a look at how capitalism functions in the United States. First, there are corporations. A corporation is a company owned by shareholders. Shareholders pay money to buy stock in the corporation. That gives them a share of the profits once the business makes money. When a corporation creates a profit, it returns some of that back to the shareholders.
Corporations exist to make a profit. But unlike individual workers, corporations aren’t taxed individually.
Instead, governments collect taxes based on the total amount of income a corporation earns. This allows corporations to deduct the costs of producing goods and services from their taxable income.
So, when a company sells something for $100, it keeps $80 after paying its employees, rent, utilities, advertising, etc. Then, it produces a tax rate of 30 percent on that remaining $80. Finally, the company turns over the rest, $20, to the government. That’s why, even though corporations are often referred to as greedy, they don’t make any more money than individuals who run small businesses.
Next, let’s discuss markets. Markets are where buyers and sellers meet. They allow businesses to find out what customers want and need. If a call has too few suppliers, prices go up. If there are too many suppliers, prices drop. Markets also create incentives for people to produce things better or cheaper.
For example, if I wanted to buy a new car, I might search online to see what cars other people bought recently. If I noticed that my neighbor had bought a particular model, I would be motivated to ask them about his experience with it. Maybe they could tell me about problems they encountered. Or perhaps they could recommend another brand. This kind of exchange helps consumers decide what they want.
It also allows producers to figure out how to improve their products. So, markets work well when there are enough participants.
Finally, let’s talk about the government. Governments provide infrastructure like roads, bridges, tunnels, airports, water treatment plants, power grids, etc. They can also enforce contracts, protect property rights, and regulated industries. Governments also provide police forces, armies, and fire departments.
These institutions help ensure that markets function pretty.
Why Is Capitalism So Important?
Capitalism is one of the most integral parts of modern life—but how exactly did we get here? Today, we can shop online, work flexible hours, and live comfortably without growing much food ourselves. We’re able to provide jobs and opportunities for others because of companies like Walmart and Apple, both of whom were founded long before the Civil Rights Movement.
How did Capitalism become such an essential part of everyday life?
The short answer is that Capitalism gave us freedom. It allowed people to pursue their dreams and goals. Capitalism also created a lot of wealth, which led to prosperity and opportunity for many. And it provided the foundation for economic growth. And now, with the rise of social media, smartphones, and the internet, we have access to information, news, and products faster than ever. Today, Capitalism is viewed as a negative term, but it isn’t anything terrible if you think about it. It’s just a way of organizing production and distribution. Why not call it “production-and-distribution” instead.
How does Capitalism benefit society?
Capitalism benefits everyone. Because it allows people to choose what jobs they want, it gives them control over their lives.
It also lets them earn more money. This means they can spend more money on goods and services.
That makes us all more prosperous.
And finally, Capitalism provides an incentive for innovation. When people invent something new, others may use it. This means that everyone gets to enjoy those innovations.
So, while Capitalism isn’t perfect, it’s still pretty great.
What Are Some Problems With Capitalism?
First, some people say that Capitalism causes inequality. But this is only true in certain circumstances.
Let’s look at two examples:
1) A company hires someone skilled at writing code. The person earns $100 per hour. The company then pays its employees based on the number of hours worked. After working 40 hours, the employee earns $4,000. Now, suppose the same company hired someone else who was less skilled at coding.
They reached $10 per hour. The company paid its employees based on the amount of time spent working. After 40 hours, the employee made $400.In this scenario, the first coder got paid more than twice as much as the second coder. Why? Because the company valued the skills of the first coder more than the second coder. To be considered qualified, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
2) Suppose a company offers a job paying $50,000 per year. However, 100 people are applying for the position. Only ten people will be selected. Now, suppose the company offered the same job paying $40,000 per year. Again, only ten people would be chosen. But, this time, the qualifications required to apply were a high school diploma or GED.
Which situation sounds better?
Inequality occurs when the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. But, under Capitalism, the wealthy don’t always make more money than the poor. For instance, let’s look at the example above where the company pays its employees based on hours worked. If the company had paid its employees based on productivity rather than hours worked, the salaries of the two coders would have been equal.
Conclusion
Thus, Capitalism comes with its Pros and Cons now it comes to the people whether they want to follow it or not. When considering the opportunities that we get through Capitalism, most people don’t open up. Some go with the flow and intake what is required. To understand the country’s economy, one must thoroughly know the nook and corners of Capitalism.