The advantages of a capitalist economy are many. Capitalism in its modern form developed as a result of the immense wealth and mass production ushered in by the Industrial Revolution. Institutions such as the New York Stock Exchange, corporation, trust, and monopoly were born. Capitalism allows for the fast and efficient flow if capital to fund investments. The growth of capitalism has fueled
. the movement from blue collar to white collar work for many Americans. Capitalism allowed, for the first time in human history on a large scale, those without inherited wealth to acquire wealth of their own. Who can forget the humble beginnings of John Rockefeller? However, left unchecked, capitalism has the disadvantage of ultimately positing large shares of a population's wealth in the hands of a few rich capitalists (such as the so-called robber barons of the Gilded Age). It should be remembered that capitalism is an economic system, not a form of government. As such, a democratic country can vote to decide what degree of capitalism the people want for their nation.
