In our discussions about reviving a healthy and holistic theology of work and vocation, it can be easy to get stuckin the realm of the theoretical. But what does it actually look like in practice, whether as an individual or enterprise? In an event co-sponsored by the Acton Institute and hosted at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, several North Carolina businessmen share their insights and advice on a range of topics, pany culture, employee discipleship, and the church’s role in ministering...

Along with “democratic socialism,” “protectionism,” and “Berning,” the word “populism” has e part of 2016 America’s vernacular thanks to the circus that is the presidential election. Like it sounds, “populism” deals with popularity, in this case among American voters. In a new op/ed for the Detroit News, Samuel Gregg explains why populism will absolutely not make America great again. This isn’t the first time populism has appeared in American or world history. “It often manifests itself,” Gregg argues, “whenever enough...

During World War II, when Britain was fighting against the evils of Nazism, the director of religious programming at the BBC, asked C.S. Lewis to give some talks about faith. The Oxford professor reluctantly agreed, and on August 6, 1941, at 7:45 in the evening he gave his first broadcast. This first broadcast on right and wrong would go on to e the most read radio series in British broadcasting history, and was used as the first chapter of Mere...

As news of the Panama Papers scandal continues to break, Acton Institute Director of Research Samuel Gregg has been making the media rounds to help people understand what appears to have happened and why. Sam made two appearances on radio yesterday, first on Relevant Radio’sThe Drew Mariani Show, speaking with guest host Ed Morrissey of ; later in the afternoon he spoke with Al Kresta on Ave Maria Radio’sKresta in the Afternoon. The audio of both interviews is posted below....

I oppose implementing Skynet and increasing minimum wage laws for the same reason: to forestall the robots. It’s probably inevitable that a T-1000 will return from the future to terminate John Connor. But there is still something we can do to prevent (at least for a time) a TIOS from eliminating the cashier at your local McDonalds. In Europe, McDonalds has ordered 7,000 TIOSs (Touch Interface Ordering Systems) to take food orders and payment. In America, Panera Bread will replace...

“This is not what I thought I’d be doing at twenty-seven.” So says Stephen Williams, who, while enjoying and appreciating much of his daily work at his local Chick-fil-A, continues to feel the various pressures of status, mobility, and vocational aspiration. “I love pany, and I am grateful for the environment here and for the paycheck,” he writes in a series of stirring reflections. “But it’s humbling to tell many of my plished, high-flying friends that I am not currently...

In almost every long-term clash over a cultural or political policy, es a point that I’d call the fort-level concession.” If the agenda of one side has been won — or has at least moved sufficiently toward achieving victory — the winning side often fortable making concessions about claims that they may have previously denied. Initially, they will firmly state, “The claims of our opponents are overblown; the detrimental effect they predict will never happen.” Once they’ve won the public...

“Since the end of the World War II, American politicians of the left and right agreed that it was in the country’s and indeed the world’s interest to promote the lowering of trade barriers,” says Kishore Jayabalan in this week’s Acton Commentary. But are American populists now presaging a turn against economic globalization? It may not be surprising that avowed socialist Bernie Sanders is opposed to free trade, but who could have imagined that the wife of “new Democrat” President...

Is the average American better off today economically than they were 4 years ago? What about 40 years ago? How would you go about answering those questions? In this video economist Alex Tabarrok explains the difference between nominal and real GDP and shows us a simple tool that can help us determine if our economic well-being as a nation is increasing or decreasing. ...

Three years ago, Dalier Hinojosa was making the equivalent of $5 to $20 per month playing baseball in the state-run Cuban league. Having nowdefectedfrom the country, escaping first to Haiti and now to America, Hinojosa will make $514,000 this season, playing for the Phillies. In a profile at , we learn more about the trials of his journey, which involved a high-risk, 12-hour escape at sea, joined by his wife and a smuggler in a small motorboat: You never think...