Charles Mizrahi: God, Capitalism, and ESG

Charles Mizrahi is a savvy value investor with a record of picking undervalued stocks. In a recent article he wrote about the connection between Biblical principles and capitalism, forces often considered to be at odds. He looks at values in both senses of the word.

Mizrahi wrote:

In this time of economic uncertainty around the world, we should not look for a global reset, attempt to undo the tenets of capitalism, or wait to see what the next round of government bailouts gives us.

We should instead be taking hold of the opportunities that American capitalism, based on thousands of years of Judeo-Christian principles, provides to each and every one of us: to work hard, invest, and thrive — and follow God’s commands to help our neighbors prosper.

In an interview, Mizrahi talked about the difference between the abilities of government and private enterprise, the increasing investor support for ESG priorities (environmental, social, and governance priorities) in their portfolio companies. Mizrahi offers a free 30-day subscription to his Alpha Investor newsletter, including his model portfolio and text alerts.

What can capitalism and free enterprise do that government cannot? What can government do that capitalism cannot?