Wealth Redistribution Research Paper

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What is wealth redistribution? “Redistribution of wealth is simply the transfer of wealth, property or income from one individual to another. This redistribution is caused by some social mechanism, such as nationalization, charity, taxation, welfare or tort law” (History and Debate of Redistribution). “Supporters of such redistribution argue that widespread economic inequality that exists in America and around the world is unjust and therefore immoral, and that it is the obligation of government to overcome such inequality by capping executive salaries and significantly raising taxes for everyone above a certain income level” (Ruggiero, 93). What is the wealth gap from the rich to the poor in America? “In 2013, families in the top 10 percent of the …show more content…

The abuse of these programs hurts people who are truly in need. I believe the most ethical decision will be to keep the social programs but provide stipulations. A person in need could receive the help they needed if they spend an X number of hours searching for a job, or they could receive social help if they go to college, etc. What are some consequences of wealth redistribution? Some people argue that people who receive government assistance become lazy and do not put forth 100% effort into bettering their financial situation. Another potential negative consequence could be, if the government places a cap on earnings then maybe new business will not be opened which, could potentially hurt the economy as well as people looking for work. On the other hand, some positive consequences could potentially reduce the gap between the rich and poor. Things such as starvation and homelessness could be eliminated, civil unrest such as violent protests because of wealth inequality could be reduced. Per the dictionary obligation is “an act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment” (Dictionary). Do the wealthy in the United States have an obligation to help the poor? In my opinion,

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