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Capitalism

The "Free Market" is More Popular than "Capitalism"

Such anomalies are common when polling often-ignorant voters. But libertarians would do well to take note, anyway.

Ilya Somin | 7.19.2026 12:15 AM

Illustration: Lex Villena; Joe Sohm

A recent Echelon Insights poll finds that the "free market economy" is more popular than "capitalism." 53% of respondents say they have a "very" or "somewhat" favorable view of the former, while only 12% have an very or somewhat unfavorable view. By contrast, "capitalism" is viewed very or somewhat favorably by 49%, while the two unfavorable categories combine for 29% (more than the........

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