Shared prosperity: A new goal for a changing nation

"I believe that to meet the challenge of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. We must all learn to work, not just for our own self, family, or nation; but for the benefit of all humankind. Universal responsibility is the key to human survival."
- The Dalai Lama

In this age, when man has forgotten his origins and is blind even to his most essential needs for survival; his indifference of fellowmen, the kindred human being, has made him the victim of that self same indifference. We have forgotten that life is not about the lone survival of the self or the nuclear family; that liberty is not only about human rights; the pursuit of happiness is just not about one single person's physical and spiritual nourishment.

As a result, we have made all public resources belong to the rich. The poor survive as best they can. Otherwise, they just turn over and die. This is what, in a nutshell, is defined as modern day economics; because economics has become incurably growth-oriented and addicted to everybody growing richer, even at the cost of exhaustion of resources and pollution of the environment and even if, all do not grow rich as anticipated.

World offers

We have forgotten that the world offers and provides us with genuinely sufficient resources to meet everyone's needs, not everyone's greed - that no man, nowhere, at no time, need grow hungry. It was Subramania Bharati, writer, poet, journalist, independence activist, social reformer from Tamil Nadu, India, considered one among the greatest of Tamil literary figures of all time wrote in one of his poems: Should one person in this world go without food, let us destroy it. I wonder what might need to change in our own heart, in order to respond to the cry of those in hunger.

The world may seem to have changed a great deal since Bharati's time. Nevertheless, while certain positive changes have occurred due to globalization, some negative consequences have also come into existence, bringing challenges to the situation of the world. In fact, to get back to the kind of shared prosperity and upward mobility we once considered normal will require another era of fundamental reform, of both our economy and our democracy.

Old problems

Old problems have accentuated in spite of the persistent efforts of great religious leaders and social reformers. They have taken on various forms on an enormous scale, wreaking havoc and causing disharmony. Globalisation has not achieved what should be its primary objective - that of uniting people. It has, if anything, acted negatively, to induce widespread materialism and consumerism, which in turn, have had a negative impact on humanity.

The hunger for power and a general indifference towards other human beings have developed in societies around the world. This has made us slowly inured to the suffering of others. If we are to achieve a future of shared prosperity, we need to ensure that the middle class in our country is growing and poverty is declining. Sadly though, the prosperity or misery of a people is in direct proportion to their liberties or their prejudices and, accordingly, to the sacrifices or the selfishness of their politicians. Thus, before the fruits of prosperity can come, the storms of life needs to first bring the required rains of wisdom to produce a mature harvest.

Pope Francis created a new theme and he called it, a culture of inclusion. "Inclusion" meaning: to include others in your circle - other races, religions, nationalities, classes, and people of different economic and educational levels. It is important not to exclude or alienate any of them. Shared prosperity requires that growth be inclusive. Thus, creating a culture of inclusion in the national environment is a grand scheme, and the idea holds great importance because, inequality often weakens a nation's economy and social stability.

Shared prosperity

That does not mean that shared prosperity goal imply reducing inequality by redistributing wealth. Instead, we need to seek rapid and sustained increases in living standards for all of our citizens, not just the privileged few. Growth must be, shared in ways that boost the income of the bottom 40 percent of the population. It is then that we can claim we are moving toward shared prosperity; the goal combining the notions of rising prosperity and equity. No country can achieve stability with high levels of inequality because a persistent rise in inequality will ultimately limit income growth of the less well to do, eventually limiting economic growth itself and paving the way for instability.

Different histories

Countries may have different histories and needs and no one solution will fit all; but the path to shared prosperity for a country will depend on both context and time. For instance, for children and youth, this would mean providing universal access to early childhood development, health, nutrition, education, and basic infrastructure.

For women, it would mean dismantling barriers to their participation in economic, social, and political life. It will depend on progress toward equitable access to opportunities for all citizens; and that requires long-term vision, willingness to build solid institutions, social change, and strong political will.

Natural resources

The natural resources of the nation do not belong to any person, organization, collective, or even to the nation. It is the wealth of the entire people. However, if natural resources are the materials or substances occurring in nature which man exploits to gain economic prosperity, what is natural wealth? This is a question with which, I have struggled for a long time. Of course, long back, almost 2400 or so years before present, Socrates the classical Greek philosopher did say that contentment is natural wealth. Even before Socrates, the Buddha said it and there is immense truth in the statement.

It may be the prime motivator of wisdom; but I was never completely satisfied with that answer.

For me, there are some more of nature's gifts that deem as natural wealth: love, beauty, sun, sea, water, air, plant and animal life.

They are priceless in comparison to man made wealth that keeps man in artificial poverty. We live in a system that espouses merit, equality, and a level playing field, but exalts those with wealth, power, and celebrity, however gained. We fail to realise that prosperity is only an instrument to use, not worship; and that a smile, love and the like enriches the happiness of others.

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