The Ethics of Wealth Accumulation: A Philosophical Analysis of Long-Term Investment Strategies with Implications for Wellbeing Policy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65638/2978-882X.2025.01.02Keywords:
Wealth ethics, Wellbeing policy, Distributive justice, Sustainable investment, Inequality reduction, SDG 10, Ethical finance, Capabilities approachAbstract
This paper examines the ethical dimensions of wealth accumulation through long-term investment strategies and their implications for individual and collective wellbeing. Drawing upon distributive justice, virtue ethics, and capabilities frameworks, this analysis explores how wealth accumulation practices affect wellbeing outcomes including health, security, autonomy, and social inclusion. The paper investigates four primary questions: (1) the moral permissibility of wealth accumulation in contexts of global inequality, (2) the ethical implications of compound growth and intergenerational wealth transfer, (3) the relationship between investment patterns and wellbeing indicators, and (4) the institutional responsibilities for structuring wealth systems consistent with wellbeing principles.
Through critical examination of recent philosophical debates and empirical wellbeing data, this paper argues that ethical wealth accumulation requires integration with wellbeing centered economic policy. The analysis proposes concrete policy reforms including progressive wealth taxation aligned with SDG 10, ethical investment platform standards, wealth transparency mechanisms, and wellbeing indexed corporate governance frameworks. The paper concludes with actionable recommendations for policymakers, investors, and reform advocates, demonstrating how philosophical ethics can inform public wellbeing policy design in areas of inclusive growth, sustainable finance, and equitable innovation systems.
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