Severe economic downturns, with their devastating human impacts, are common in modern market economies. Prout theory links most of these occurrences with economic inequality, also a feature of capitalism. Economist Mark Friedman explains how economic inequality increases instability, and how instability will be reduced with economic democracy. Mark Friedman recently retired from teaching economics. Prout has informed his study of economics throughout his career. He currently serves on the boards of Health Care for All Minnesota and Prout Alliance.