Is ‘immaculate capitalism’ sustainable?
“Scores of smoochable start-ups” have figured out how to provide great, free online services, says Reihan Salam in Slate. Now they need to figure out how to make money in a culture of “immaculate capitalism,” the “don’t be evil” vision espoused by Google in which “no one gets screwed and everyone gets awesome, free stuff.” Traditionally, these “noble and un-evil” start-ups only make money when “evil Uncle Moneybags”—Microsoft, Yahoo!, or even Google—swoops in to buy them at “a healthy valuation.” Now, with Yahoo! at risk and a recession looming, “immaculate capitalism will have to put its money where its mouth is.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.