Changes

"Wealth" has come to mean an abundance of items of economic [[Value (economics)|value]], or the state of controlling or possessing such items, and encompasses [[money]], [[real estate]] and personal [[property (ownership right)|property]]. In many countries wealth is also measured by reference to access to essential services such as [[health care]], or the possession of [[Crop (agriculture)|crops]] and [[livestock]]. An individual who is wealthy, affluent, or rich is someone who has accumulated substantial wealth relative to others in their society or reference group. In economics, [[Wealth (economics)|wealth]] refers to the value of [[assets]] owned minus the value of [[liability#Financial accounting|liabilities]] owed at a point in time.

"Wealth" has come to mean an abundance of items of economic [[Value (economics)|value]], or the state of controlling or possessing such items, and encompasses [[money]], [[real estate]] and personal [[property (ownership right)|property]]. In many countries wealth is also measured by reference to access to essential services such as [[health care]], or the possession of [[Crop (agriculture)|crops]] and [[livestock]]. An individual who is wealthy, affluent, or rich is someone who has accumulated substantial wealth relative to others in their society or reference group. In economics, [[Wealth (economics)|wealth]] refers to the value of [[assets]] owned minus the value of [[liability#Financial accounting|liabilities]] owed at a point in time.

Some of the wealthiest countries in the world are the [[United States]], the [[United Kingdom]], the [[Republic of Ireland]], [[Norway]], [[Japan]], [[Kuwait]], [[United Arab Emirates]] (especially [[Dubai]]), [[South Korea]], [[Germany]], [[The Netherlands]], [[Belgium]], [[France]], [[Israel]], [[Taiwan]], [[Australia]], [[Singapore]], [[Canada]], [[Finland]], [[Greece]], [[Spain]], [[Portugal]], [[Sweden]], [[Italy]], [[New Zealand]], [[Iceland]], [[Monaco]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Liechenstein]] and [[Switzerland]], the larger of which are in the [[G8]]. All of the above countries, except United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, are considered [[developed countries]].

Some of the wealthiest countries in the world are the [[United States]], the [[United Kingdom]], the [[Republic of Ireland]], [[Norway]], [[Japan]], [[Kuwait]], [[United Arab Emirates]] (especially [[Dubai]]), [[South Korea]], [[Germany]], [[The Netherlands]], [[Belgium]], [[France]], [[Israel]], [[Taiwan]], [[Australia]], [[Singapore]], [[Canada]], [[Finland]], [[Greece]], [[Spain]], [[Portugal]], [[Sweden]], [[Italy]], [[New Zealand]], [[Iceland]], [[Monaco]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Liechenstein]] and [[Switzerland]], the larger of which are in the [[G8]]. All of the above countries, except United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, are considered [[developed countries]].

==Anthropological views of wealth==

==Anthropological views of wealth==

===Buckminster Fuller's Notion of Wealth===

===Buckminster Fuller's Notion of Wealth===

In [http://www.rwgrayprojects.com/synergetics/s10/p7000.html#1075.25 section 1075.25] of [http://www.rwgrayprojects.com/synergetics/ Synergetics], [[Buckminster Fuller]] defined wealth as "the measurable degree of established operative advantage".  In Critical Path<ref>{{cite book | last=Fuller | first=R. Buckminster | pages=p. 125 | title=Critical Path | location=New York | publisher=St. Martin's Press | year=1981 | isbn=0312174888 }}</ref> Fuller described his notion as that which "realistically protected, nurtured, and accommodated X numbers of human lives for Y number of forward days".  Philosophically, Fuller viewed "real wealth" as human know-how and know-what which he pointed out is always increasing.

In [http://www.rwgrayprojects.com/synergetics/s10/p7000.html#1075.25 section 1075.25] of [http://www.rwgrayprojects.com/synergetics/ Synergetics], [[Buckminster Fuller]] defined wealth as "the measurable degree of established operative advantage".  In Critical Path, Fuller described his notion as that which "realistically protected, nurtured, and accommodated X numbers of human lives for Y number of forward days".  Philosophically, Fuller viewed "real wealth" as human know-how and know-what which he pointed out is always increasing.

===The creation of wealth===

===The creation of wealth===

Wealth is created through several means.

Wealth is created through several means.

* Natural resources can be harvested and sold to those who want them.

* Natural resources can be harvested and sold to those who want them.

Most researchers feel that sustained environmental impacts can have an effect on the whole ecosystem. They claim that the accumulated impacts on the ecosystem put a theoretical limit on the amount of wealth that can be created. They draw on archeology to cite examples of cultures that they claim have disappeared because they grew beyond the ability of their ecosystems to support them.

Most researchers feel that sustained environmental impacts can have an effect on the whole ecosystem. They claim that the accumulated impacts on the ecosystem put a theoretical limit on the amount of wealth that can be created. They draw on archeology to cite examples of cultures that they claim have disappeared because they grew beyond the ability of their ecosystems to support them.

Others are more optimistic (or, as the first group might claim, more naïve). They claim that although unrestrained wealth-creating activities may have localized environmental impact, large scale ecological effects are either minor or non-existent; or that even if global scale ecological effects exist, human ingenuity will always find ways of adapting to them, so that there is no ecological limit to the amount of growth or wealth that this planet will sustain{{Fact|date=May 2007}}.

Others are more optimistic (or, as the first group might claim, more naïve). They claim that although unrestrained wealth-creating activities may have localized environmental impact, large scale ecological effects are either minor or non-existent; or that even if global scale ecological effects exist, human ingenuity will always find ways of adapting to them, so that there is no ecological limit to the amount of growth or wealth that this planet will sustain.

More fundamentally, the limited surface of Earth places limits on the space, population and natural resources available to the human race, at least until such time as large-scale space travel is a realistic proposition.

More fundamentally, the limited surface of Earth places limits on the space, population and natural resources available to the human race, at least until such time as large-scale space travel is a realistic proposition.

Wealth is a stock, meaning that it is a total accumulation over time. [[Income]] is a flow, meaning it is a rate of change.  Income represents the increase in wealth, expenses the decrease in wealth.  If you limit wealth to [[net worth]], then mathematically net income (income minus expenses) can be thought of as  the first derivative of wealth, representing the change in wealth over a period of time.

Wealth is a stock, meaning that it is a total accumulation over time. [[Income]] is a flow, meaning it is a rate of change.  Income represents the increase in wealth, expenses the decrease in wealth.  If you limit wealth to [[net worth]], then mathematically net income (income minus expenses) can be thought of as  the first derivative of wealth, representing the change in wealth over a period of time.

==The distribution of wealth==<!-- This section is linked from [[Wealth]] -->

==The distribution of wealth==

[[Capitalism]] asserts that all wealth is earned, not distributed. It can only be distributed after it is forcibly seized from the earners (usually in the form of tax). Wealth acquired this way is then distributed. Thus this section is concerned with the anti-capitalist conception of wealth, namely that all wealth is collective and distributed among individuals.

[[Capitalism]] asserts that all wealth is earned, not distributed. It can only be distributed after it is forcibly seized from the earners (usually in the form of tax). Wealth acquired this way is then distributed. Thus this section is concerned with the anti-capitalist conception of wealth, namely that all wealth is collective and distributed among individuals.

Land ownership was also justified according to [[John Locke]]. He claimed that because we admix our labour with the land, we thereby deserve the right to control the use of the land and benefit from the product of that land, subject to the [[Lockean proviso]] of "at least where there is enough, and as good left in common for others." Additionally, in our post agricultural society this argument has many critics (including those influenced by [[Georgist]] and [[geolibertarian]] ideas) that argue that since people did not create land, they have no right of property over it. Still, many older ideas have resurfaced in the modern notions of [[ecological stewardship]], [[bioregionalism]], [[natural capital]], and [[ecological economics]].

Land ownership was also justified according to [[John Locke]]. He claimed that because we admix our labour with the land, we thereby deserve the right to control the use of the land and benefit from the product of that land, subject to the [[Lockean proviso]] of "at least where there is enough, and as good left in common for others." Additionally, in our post agricultural society this argument has many critics (including those influenced by [[Georgist]] and [[geolibertarian]] ideas) that argue that since people did not create land, they have no right of property over it. Still, many older ideas have resurfaced in the modern notions of [[ecological stewardship]], [[bioregionalism]], [[natural capital]], and [[ecological economics]].

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]