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Debt generates wealth

September 30th, 2023 | Tags: economics business debt BVI wealth money
Dickson C. Igwe. Photo: VINO/File
Dickson C. Igwe

Capital ownership has driven increasing social and wealth inequality practically everywhere. Social inequality is a global phenomenon driven by the power of capital, and the owners of capital. Capital- human and physical assets that generate wealth- tends to increase the wealth and power of those who control capital. Today, wealthy capitalists own the most powerful corporations and practically run the world.

There is a belief that Inequality may have become unsustainable, and is driving a resurgence in fascism, nationalism, and conflict worldwide. Dubious populists, many whom are billionaires themselves, are using growing inequality to stir up the masses to anger, in an attempt to grab power: the drivers of Brexit, Donald Trump’s Revolution, and Hungary’s Orban are prime examples.   

OK. Loans, mortgages, and credit enable the capitalist system.  Modern markets would not function without debt termed financial capital. Debt generates wealth for both lender and borrowers in specific circumstances. However, debt overwhelmingly benefits the lender also known as the investor.

Debt can be a good thing if it is debt of the right type. Debt that is sustainable. Debt that fosters investment. Debt used for a business’s cash flow. Debt that offers benefits such as shopping discounts, travel privileges, and air miles and so on and so forth.

The Capitalist system pushes this tale, advising us to keep a good credit score by adopting a healthy relationship to debt, by keeping what we borrow sustainable and not defaulting.

Now, there are two types of individual in economics: producers and consumers. Economics is the study of scarcity, with producers using scarce human and physical resources to produce products needed by markets and society.

Consumers – and we are all consumers- in the marketplace, determine production: what and when to produce. The producer decides the where and how. Both producer and consumer are critical to the marketplace.  Both exist no matter the ideology or system in place.

Then, the fine balance of demand and supply is the invisible choreography that brings us the goods and services we need. The producer observes and assesses the market and influences consumer choice through advertising and marketing. The producer decides what to produce based on consumer behavior. The preceding is the basis for Supply Side Economics.

The presumption is that consumers possess the ability to pay. The problem is that consumers do not always have the means to pay for what they want, need, and consume. However, producers require payment or business goes to the wall.

That is where debt features. Debt is the bridge linking investors to consumers, who sustain the corporate world.

Dickson Igwe

9 Responses to “Debt generates wealth”

  • pat (30/09/2023, 13:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Agreed
  • KEEP IT COMING BRO (30/09/2023, 15:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    ITS AS ALWAYS ENLIGHTENING AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE TO READ YOUR ARTICLES ITS LIKE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR , COMPARE TO THOSE WHO HAS NOTHING CONSTRUCTIVE TO DO , AND AS THE SAYING GOES ( THE DEVIL FIND WORK FOR IDLE HANDS ( MINDS ) TO DO ) LIKE SPEWING OUT RACIST RETHORIC DAY AND NIGHT WHICH SHOWS THE EVIL AND VINDICTIVENESS THAT IS WITHIN THEM
  • E. Leonard (30/09/2023, 16:11) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The typical view is that those who have the gold makes the rule. Debt is money. In the US, taxes tend to make the poor and middle class poorer; while the rich and wealthy used the tax system to get richer. Similarly, debt tends to make the poor and middle class poorer yet the rich and wealthy used debt to get richer and wealthier. Again, he/she who has the gold makes the rule.
    • @E.Leonard (30/09/2023, 19:26) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      @E. Leonard, “ Debt is money.” That is a big tease. Is not money, not debt, the medium of exchange I used at the store. And debt builds wealth? Taxes make you rich? Too much for me.
      • E. Leonard (01/10/2023, 07:54) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        @@E. Leonard, the golden rule says he/she who holds the gold makes the rule. The tax system is structured and incentivized to favor the rich and wealthy. Wealthy individuals, big businesses, etc legally used the tax system and debt to pay little or no taxes. Former President Donald Trump brags that he is king of debt and uses the tax system to pay little or no taxes. The rich and wealthy invest in assets that are tax deductible. It is important to note that people who work for a living/individuals on average has the highest tax rate. The rich don’t work for money; they invest and operate big businesses. The tax rate on investment income is lower than individual tax rate. Debt is money. For example, when issued a new credit card there is no money on it yet. But if it is used to buy a birthday gift for say $200.00, money is created in the economy. Credit cards are the biggest money earners for banks. That is why they are not too excited about your money, paying you little if anything on it. They are saying we have money come and borrow some.
        • @E. Leonard (01/10/2023, 10:25) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
          @E. Leonard, so the system is rigged to favor the rich, wealthy and powerful. So it does not matter who is in power the rich would still run things. Oh, that golden rule: He who has the gold makes the rules. Rigged, rigged, rigged. Now, I see why banks pay me little or nothing on my demand deposits. They are flushed with cash and want us to borrow their money, not take our cash. I thought ( use to think) banks wanted our demand deposits which they will in turn loan out at high interest rates but pay us little or nothing on our demand deposits. Further, credit cards are now banks golden goose, especially if we continue to pay the minimum for ever. Before I go, I need to make an appeal to the Hon Dr. Premier Wheatley and the Hon Sharie B. de Castro, MEC, and others to take actions to include finance in the primary and secondary school’s curriculum. Many of us learn about finance on the “street” and often learn the wrong or faulty things, which can results in our making bad and costly decisions. Enjoy y’all Dibday!!
  • @ E lie N erd (30/09/2023, 18:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    AND YOUR POINT IS ? / HOW ABOUT GIVING US A RESPOCCE TO THE ( ISLAND PEOPLE ) SAGA - EH BRO ?
  • Curious (01/10/2023, 12:47) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    It seems as if the discussion is focus on the American system. Dickson, Leonard or anyone else how is finance in the UK and VI (British) , and US and USVI? Agree 100% with introducing finance in the schools. Save us from the “bush” financial masters who a little about finance but don’t have the complete picture. For example, we may confuse the terms a) what we qualify to borrow and b)what we can afford. Good discussion…….

  • @ IGWE (02/10/2023, 19:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    BOY YOU BROUGHT OUT SOME VERY CONSTRUCTIVE AND POSITIVE RESPONCES TO WHAT YOU WROTE , WHICH GIVES US ANOTHER LEARNING EXPERIENCE , SO MY RESPECT TO THOSE WHO HAS RESPONDED WITH SOME INTELLIGENT BLOGGINGS


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