ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Democratic capitalism

Democratic capitalism is a fancy term that describes two important ideas that work together: democracy and capitalism.

First, let's talk about democracy. Do you know what it means to have a vote? Well, in a democracy, people get to vote for the leaders they want to run the country or the state. It doesn't matter if you are rich, poor, young, or old – everyone gets to express their opinion by casting a vote.

Now let's talk about capitalism. Have you ever had a lemonade stand or sold toys that you don't use anymore? Well, that's what capitalism is all about. It means that people are allowed to buy and sell things, to start companies, and to make their own decisions about what to do with their money.

When we put democracy and capitalism together, we get democratic capitalism. It means that people are free to vote for their leaders and also to make decisions about what they want to do with their money. In a democratic capitalist society, the government also has a role to play in creating a fair playing field for everyone. This means that the government sets rules to make sure that companies don't cheat or take advantage of people.

So, to sum it up, democratic capitalism is a system where people have the right to vote for their leaders and are also free to make money by selling things, starting companies, and making their own decisions about what to do with their money – all while the government keeps things fair and balanced.