According to Eric Balchunas, ETFs and passive strategies exemplify capitalism because the ETF industry is brutally competitive and providers must earn every cent, in contrast to active mutual funds in his view (source: Eric Balchunas on X, Dec 5, 2025). For traders evaluating ETF vehicles across asset classes, his remarks highlight that cost discipline and issuer competition are central to investor outcomes and should be prioritized in selection and execution decisions (source: Eric Balchunas on X, Dec 5, 2025).