Rebecca Self, Religion and Ethics Editor


Doctor Arthur Brooks, a leading scholar on American culture and a practicing Catholic, thinks Notre Dame is “showing evidence of changing society.”

Brooks is president of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a renowned non-partisan think tank in Washington, DC.  AEI strives to educate policy-makers and the public on issues of culture, economics, health, politics and foreign policy.  Brooks will be speaking at Notre Dame on September 12 in DeBartolo Hall, explaining his recent New York Times bestselling book, The Road to Freedom: How to Win the Fight for Free Enterprise.  In this book he argues that a sound form of capitalism encapsulates the American notions of fairness and service, allowing each individual to lead a flourishing and prosperous life.

The Rover conducted a phone interview with Brooks in anticipation of his first visit to Notre Dame.  What follows is an edited summary of that conversation.

Rover: Reading about you online was a bit overwhelming because you work in so many different fields.  I’m wondering if you can help me understand the heart of what you do, as you see it.  My goal for this article is primarily to share your enthusiasm about free enterprise with the Notre Dame community.

Brooks: My job as the president of AEI is to understand the “why” of free enterprise, not the “what.”  I basically present the ideas behind our research to the world.  A good university president will be walking around asking everyone, “Why Notre Dame?  What is special about us?  What do we stand for, what are we here for?”   That’s what my job is like at AEI.

Rover: I’m curious—Why are you coming to Notre Dame? And why now; is there any special significance to the timing?

Brooks: Well, I’ve actually never been to Notre Dame, which is surprising.  Notre Dame is the most important Catholic institution of higher education in the country, maybe in the world.  I try and get to places that are showing evidence of changing society, changing culture, and that’s definitely happening at Notre Dame.

Rover: I’m glad you think ND is doing well to discuss such important issues.  Do you think ND helps or hinders the case for free enterprise in America?  I’m thinking of our high tuition and how it makes it difficult and even impossible for some deserving students to get here.

Brooks: Higher education in general is going through a lot of questioning regarding the tuition problem.  The market has made it into something it wasn’t several years ago.  But the problem is, some people can still pay; that’s what is driving up the prices.  And the government is taking over the student loan industry; that’s not Notre Dame’s fault.

Rover: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recently released a document about reducing income disparity.  They say that the three most important steps are to educate yourself, pay a just wage and honor human dignity.  What do you think of its analysis?  Would you add anything to it?

Brooks: Well, I think the most important question to ask is “What is a just wage?”  There’s no easy way to arrive at the answer but our faith has to come into play.  To make the system work, we need to find the connection between our faith and our economic lives.  That is very important to me as a Catholic but it is not easy to do.  I do believe that free enterprise is the  greatest single blessing God has bestowed on us to help people who are struggling.  As Christians we are obligated to look at what works.  We have to study how things are and then say, “Ok, now given these outcomes, what can I personally do?  The market didn’t hire that wounded veteran, but I can.”  And so on.  And if we make immediate changes to act on those principles of fairness and human dignity, it actually makes us happier.  When I come to Notre Dame I’ll be talking about the happiness that arises from making changes in our daily lives.

Rebecca Self is a sophomore studying Business and Education, Schooling and Society.  She’s much more sure about her minor than her major, which could be a minor or a major problem.  Email her with any consolation or advice at rself@nd.edu.