Democracy and Capitalism: A Match Made in Heaven?

Though it’s the world’s dominant economic system, capitalism’s excesses are drawing increasing criticism.

In the wake of the 2007–09 financial crisis, a number of economists and commentators have written books to try to establish why the crisis happened.

Part One: What is capitalism, how did it develop, and why is it so widely admired and accepted?

Part Two: Having survived the Great Depression, capitalism gained strength and traveled the world. Vision continues to follow its progress into the 21^st century.

Part Three: Concluding our series on the history of the world’s dominant economic system, we look at where capitalism is taking us and ask whether there is a better way.

Democracy seems to be catching on around the world. Does that mean peace is just around the corner?

Democratic values and the free market are dominant ideologies today. What are the responsibilities that come with the free choice inherent in these philosophies?

This issue’s Bio Vision looks at one of the most influential economists of all time, John Maynard Keynes.

Best known for An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith is credited with establishing the discipline of political economics.

Pioneering genius, quintessential capitalist and one of the richest men in the world, Bill Gates has left his mark on the 20^th century.