# Professor Richard Sylla responds to the pope's criticism of capitalism

1 Faculty News September 17, 2015 ![PBS NewsHour logo](/sites/default/files/styles/246w/public/assets/images/con_030937.jpg?itok=l4_epy89)>

Excerpt from [PBS NewsHour](http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/pope-francis-wants-us-stop-worshipping-capitalism/) -- "No, capitalism is not the culprit \[for poverty\]. Capitalism, when it’s allowed to do its work, some of us would say work its magic, it has a tremendous ability to raise living levels for the people who live under that system. That doesn’t mean it’s perfect, but I think to sort of say that capitalism is the problem, let’s get rid of it, as the pope may be hinting, is to throw the baby out with the bathwater."

[Read more](http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/pope-francis-wants-us-stop-worshipping-capitalism/)