Free-market capitalism has created extraordinary material progress because it gives people room to produce, exchange, invest, and build. Comment “Capitalism” and we’ll send you an article that explores this further. When property rights are secure, contracts are protected, trade is open, and starting a business is relatively easy, resources can move toward the uses people value most. Prices communicate scarcity. Profits reward successful service. Losses push resources away from waste. The result is more than economic efficiency. Open markets expand the range of goods and services available, create opportunities for entrepreneurship and work, and make it easier for individuals to pursue their own goals. Prosperity ultimately means greater freedom to choose, create, learn, travel, care for others, and build a fuller life.