Is Capitalism the Ultimate Answer?
Capitalism is the ultimate foundation needed to be successful. That is an ignorant statement that dismisses the importance of the establishment of a free enterprise system guaranteeing a reward for one’s actions.
Incentives matter, but that alone is not enough. In Hillbilly Elegy, J.D. Vance establishes an argument that forces us to question a core assumption of modern economic thought: What value is a system like capitalism if the majority are not offered the guidance or stability needed to actually utilize such a system?
Vance’s story explains that the reason for the failure of capitalism in some areas is due to lack of opportunity. He expresses how early educational experiences shape long-term outcomes. He struggles in school not due to a lack of intelligence but as a result of a chaotic and unstable household, limiting his focus and discipline in school. This reinforces the idea that although opportunities like education exist, not everyone has equal access due to other economic and social factors.
As Vance continues to evolve into adulthood, he encounters a system that exposes him to discipline, accountability, and clear expectations: the U.S. Marine Corps. This system was a key turning point in his life, where incentives still matter, but for the first time, he had the ability to act on those incentives. The strict and regulated military lifestyle reshapes his mindset and habits, making it possible for him to seek opportunities that once felt so distant. This highlights that capitalism not only relies on incentives, but on whether individuals are well-equipped to respond to them.
Transitioning into college, Vance encounters a different kind of obstacle: unfamiliarity, a struggle rooted in lack of exposure. He finds himself in an environment with behaviors and expectations he could not understand. Simple tasks like networking, sending professional emails, and establishing working relationships feel foreign and intimidating. Though Vance was working just as hard as his peers, he still found himself falling a step behind. His experiences shed light on the ultimate reality that success is not purely a product of determination. It also requires an understanding of the unwritten rules that shape today’s academic and professional spaces.
That unfamiliar feeling continued to persist when Vance attended Yale Law School, one of the most prestigious institutions in the country, and a place where Vance felt like he did not quite belong. Many of his peers walked freely, fitting perfectly into an environment that felt overwhelming to him. Despite having earned his place there, Vance could not shake the feeling that others had prior cultural exposure he did not have. This exposes a major flaw in capitalist systems: success is not determined by effort alone, but also by having strong professional connections that influence outcomes.
When an opportunity feels out of reach, the motivation to pursue it gradually fades, and that is the exact cycle Vance had to overcome. He goes further, explaining that this loss of belief is not laziness or indifference, but due to growing up in a community where years of hard work go unrewarded. When you watch those around you struggle despite their best efforts, it is hard to convince yourself that you will have a different outcome than they did. Vance emphasizes through his story that the issue with struggling communities is not simply because they were not trying hard enough. The real issue was that the ambition was there but not enough proof illustrated that the pursuit of acting on one’s ambition was worth it.
Let me make it clear: Hillbilly Elegy does not argue that capitalism is ineffective. Instead, it tells a story that reveals that success is dependent on preparation, stability, exposure, and connections. These are key factors that shape whether individuals can actually take advantage of the opportunities a capitalist system provides. So, the question prevails: Is capitalism the answer on its own, or are there other factors to being successful?
About this Piece
Excellent Abikphi, of Midland, Michigan, is studying Finance and Accounting at Northwood University. This piece, which was authored as part of Excellent’s Economics of Public Policies course, is inspired by Northwood’s Spring 2026 Omniquest book selection, Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, by J.D. Vance.