Capitalism is a system of economic enterprise based on market exchange, private ownership of the means of production, and the pursuit of profit. 'Capital' refers to any asset, including money, property, and machines, which can be used to produce commodities for sale or invested in a market with the hope of achieving a profit. Key features of capitalism include free markets, competition, wage labor, and the accumulation of capital. While it can drive innovation and economic growth, capitalism has also been criticised for its potential to create social inequalities and economic instability. Karl Marx argued that capitalism leads to alienation of workers from their labor and the products they produce.