Ace the Civic Literacy Challenge 2026 – Unlock Your Citizen Superpower!

The economic system in the United States is characterized as capitalism. This system is defined by private ownership of the means of production and the operation of markets where goods and services are exchanged based on supply and demand. In a capitalist economy, individuals and businesses have the freedom to pursue their own economic interests, which leads to competition and innovation.

Capitalism in the U.S. is also supported by a legal framework that protects property rights, enforces contracts, and allows for limited government intervention in the market. This encourages entrepreneurship and attracts investment, contributing to economic growth and a diverse range of products and services in the marketplace.

In contrast, socialism and communism involve varying degrees of government control over resources and production, with an emphasis on wealth redistribution and social welfare, which is not the case in the U.S. Feudalism is an outdated socio-economic system that was prevalent in medieval Europe, characterized by a hierarchy of lords, vassals, and serfs, and does not apply to modern-day economic systems like that of the United States. Thus, capitalism accurately describes the economic structure underpinning the American economy.