In this presentation at Capitalism & Morality 2014, I discuss the values that allow societies to become successful, dynamic, and civilized.

Economic progress does not arise merely from resources, technology, or formal institutions. It depends on deeper cultural and moral foundations: trust, personal responsibility, rationality, honesty, and the ability to cooperate beyond the immediate family or tribe.

Watch the full presentation below:

Key Takeaways

• Why prosperity depends on moral and cultural values, not merely on laws or resources.
• How trust, honesty, and personal responsibility make complex societies possible.
• Why institutions cannot function properly when the underlying culture does not support them.
• How tribalism, envy, and short-term thinking undermine economic and social development.
• Why successful societies require people who can think abstractly, respect contracts, and cooperate peacefully with strangers.