An Economy for the 99%

Organization(s): Oxfam
Author: Deborah Hardoon
Year: 2017
Language: English, Portuguese
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New estimates show that just eight men own the same wealth as the poorest half of the world. As growth benefits the richest, the rest of society – especially the poorest – suffers. The very design of our economies and the principles of our economics have taken us to this extreme, unsustainable and unjust point. Our economy must stop excessively rewarding those at the top and start working for all people. Accountable and visionary governments, businesses that work in the interests of workers and producers, a valued environment, women’s rights and a strong system of fair taxation, are central to this more human economy.


Novas estimativas indicam que o patrimônio de apenas oito homens é igual ao da metade mais pobre do mundo. Enquanto o crescimento beneficia os mais ricos, o restante da sociedade – especialmente os mais afetados pela pobreza – sofrem. O desenho e a estrutura das nossas economias e os princípios que dão base a decisões econômicas nos levaram a essa situação extrema, insustentável e injusta. Nossa
economia precisa parar de recompensar excessivamente os mais ricos e começar a funcionar em prol de todas as pessoas. Governos responsáveis e visionários, empresas que trabalham no interesse de trabalhadores e produtores, valorizando o meio ambiente e os direitos das mulheres, e um sistema robusto de justiça fiscal são elementos fundamentais para essa economia mais humana.

Related Principles

Universality of Protection

States parties to major human rights instruments related to economic, social and cultural rights such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) have an immediate minimum core obligation to ensure the satisfaction of, at the very least, minimum essential levels of all economic, social and cultural rights such as the right […]

Social Protection and Human Rights