Abstract

In J. K. Galbraith’s 1950s book The Affluent Society, the American economist pointed out that the ideas guiding the modern welfare state originated in the conditions of serious poverty that have prevailed since the dawn of man. The failure of society to adapt its underlying ideas to new conditions has caused a range of problems that may jeopardize the prosperity that has been acquired. Poverty and scarcity still exist in much of the world with the exception of a relatively small number of countries inhabited or claimed by Europeans. Until relatively recently, only Western Europe and North America could boast of prosperity. Poor and hungry people have limited choices and few can afford to focus on goals beyond survival. Only the rich face the question of what to do with their wealth. Thus it is more probable that the wealthy will engage in activities that will threaten their very position and prosperity. This is particularly true when the status of affluence came suddenly and represents a radical change from previous conditions.