Income equality is not a value—freedom and productivity are

Income equality is not a value—freedom and productivity are

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I have resisted writing about the perceived problem of inequality in income and wealth; Thomas Piketty’s book, Capital in the 21st Century, has received too much unjustified attention already. But I gave in because I think what I have to add to the debate helps in rejecting Piketty’s argument that the wealth and income gap is somehow alarming and should be reduced.

Why is the attention to Piketty’s book unjustified? Because the wealth and income gap between the rich and the rest of us, whether growing or not, does not matter. (And therefore, over 700 pages of analysis of this issue are a waste of paper and a waste of time to read and think about. I have not read and will not read Piketty’s book). As Harry Binswanger convincingly argues in a Real Clear Markets column, income level is not a social but an individual issue. How much money someone makes is nobody else’s business, as long as they earn the money honestly, without initiating force or fraud, and are not forced to do it. The amount of money a person earns by working for someone else, by operating a business, or by investing is a matter of trade: in (relatively) free markets your income depends on how valuable what you offer (your labor, your products or services, or your capital) is to your trading partners. And how valuable what you offer is, depends on your productivity: creation of material values. The more productive you are, the more material values you create, and the higher your income and accumulated wealth.

Our lives literally depend on productivity: without our productive efforts and those of others, there would be no material values— such as houses, vehicles, fuel, food, medicine, insurance, art, entertainment—that a flourishing life requires. And productivity requires freedom: freedom to choose with whom to trade, what to produce, where, and when, and how to dispense the results of one’s production (to consume or to invest). While slaves can produce material values under the threat of force, they lack the incentive to innovate new and better products and better ways of producing. Throughout history, the freest societies have always been the most productive: contrast, say, America (especially before it became a modern entitlement state) and Russia under various forms of dictatorship.

Now, take Piketty’s (and President Obama’s and other leftists’) argument that income inequality is a problem and should be reduced or eliminated. The only way to reduce the differences in income and wealth is to take (through taxation) from those who are more productive and give to those who are less productive. This reduces the freedom, and motivation, of the producers. The consequence? Fewer material values are produced overall—given the lesser motivation, ability, and effort—and everyone’s ability to survive and thrive is diminished.

We should not envy those who are more productive than us and demand the government to reduce the income gap. We should encourage and cheer their productivity instead because their production, investment, and consumption (which means increased demand for products and services) create more material values and trading opportunities for us. Curtailing the producers’ freedom and forcefully reducing inequality in income and wealth harm everybody. So let’s reject Piketty’s and others’ arguments against income inequality and embrace and defend freedom to produce and trade instead.

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2 Responses

  1. I consider myself a moderate capitalist, so while I have no issue with people accumulating wealth proportional to their productivity I am skeptical that free markets are as immune to exploitation or injustices as they are presented. One reason is that, there are few instances of truly free markets, even in the case of places like Hong Kong or Singapore regulation exists and arguably provides some level of stability. I see the dangers in too much regulation, but I’m just not convinced that all regulations are bad or that setting aside a small portion of the market for a command economy leads to the end of the world/ communism. Another is that putting an ideological focus on profit is risky from a philosophical point of view. Wealth production and accumulation is a means to leading a more satisfying and ethical life, but it is and should never be perceived as the end goal. If we are truly working in our own self-interest we must realize that one can be financially successful, have all the material possessions they desire and still feel empty and unfulfilled.

    1. Thank you for your comment. Not sure what you mean by “moderate” capitalism. There is only capitalism–which means laissez-faire, i.e., a social system in which individual rights are recognized and all property is privately owned (as per Ayn Rand’s definition). Any other system is statist, to smaller or larger degree, where government interferes in the economy. Capitalism is the only moral social system–although it is an ideal that does not exist today–in that it leaves individuals free to pursue their own lives without government force. Government does play an important role in a capitalist system as the protector of individual rights against those who initiate physical force or fraud–which is sufficient harmonious interactions among people; no other regulations are needed. As for inequality, that reflects individual differences. Some individuals will flourish more than others, but nobody is held back by force. Those truly destitute need to depend on private charity (which there is more of in a system of wealth creation and absence of government force).

      I recommend Ayn Rand’s essay, What is capitalism, in her book Capitalism, The Unknown Ideal, for more on capitalism. Also, Yaron Brook and Don Watkins recent book, Free Market Revolution, also offers helpful elaboration.

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Jaana Woiceshyn teaches business ethics and competitive strategy at the Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, Canada.

She has lectured and conducted seminars on business ethics to undergraduate, MBA and Executive MBA students, and to various corporate audiences for over 20 years both in Canada and abroad. Before earning her Ph.D. from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, she helped turn around a small business in Finland and worked for a consulting firm in Canada.

Jaana’s research on technological change and innovation, value creation by business, executive decision-making, and business ethics has been published in various academic and professional journals and books. “How to Be Profitable and Moral” is her first solo-authored book.

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