Unlocking Human Progress through Capitalism

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Come and join us in Sydney on Tuesday, 17 October, for an evening event featuring Marian Tupy and Fraser Nelson in a conversation led by CIS executive director Tom Switzer. Marian and Fraser will be in Australia for our annual Consilium conference and this will be their only public appearance.

In an era characterised by a prevailing sense of trepidation, fuelled by dire predictions spanning from global famine to overpopulation and climate catastrophe, a fascinating paradox emerges. 

In 2021, a study conducted by the University of Bath engaged 10,000 people aged 16 to 25 worldwide, revealing that a staggering 75% harboured a profound fear of the ‘frightening’ future. A remarkable 56% believed that the very essence of ‘humanity’ stood on the precipice of extinction, and a notable 39% expressed reluctance to bring children into a world they perceived as increasingly bleak. 

Are their fears legitimate? Or is it possible there’s another side to the story concealed from public discourse? That, thanks to the spread of capitalism around the globe, there is a brighter side that is rarely told? 

An examination of the bigger picture of human history unveils a striking paradox — despite the persistent narratives of apprehension, we find ourselves in an era of unprecedented human fortune. As capitalism’s accomplishments continue to mount — exemplified by a marked reduction in extreme poverty, greater educational attainment and wide access to healthcare — the more unpopular markets seem to have become.

Fraser Nelson is a columnist at the Daily Telegraph and has been the editor of The Spectator in London since 2009.

Marian Tupy is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity and co-author of the book Superabundance (Cato). Marian is also the narrator of PragerU’s recent video series “The Best Time to be Alive” which has nearly half a million views.