--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The free market is notorious for…" description: "\"The free market is notorious for distributing resources in a highly unequal manner, with great concentrations of wealth at the top and poverty at the b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d43/linda-mcquaig-38650_bottom_the-free-market-is-notorious-for-distrib_1824035.jpg" --- # The free market is notorious for distributing resources in… ![“The free market is notorious for distributing resources in a highly unequal manner, with great concentrations of wealth at the top and poverty at the bottom. Our social programs, modest compared to those of many other Western countries, play an important role in redistributing some of those…” quote by Linda McQuaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d43/linda-mcquaig-38650_bottom_the-free-market-is-notorious-for-distrib_1824035.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d43/linda-mcquaig-38650_bottom_the-free-market-is-notorious-for-distrib_1824035.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d43/linda-mcquaig-38650_bottom_the-free-market-is-notorious-for-distrib_1824035.jpg) > “The free market is notorious for distributing resources in a highly unequal manner, with great concentrations of wealth at the top and poverty at the bottom. Our social programs, modest compared to those of many other Western countries, play an important role in redistributing some of those resources from the haves to the have-nots.” [Linda McQuaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcquaig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Free markets create wealth gaps; social programs help rebalance resources for fairness. **In simple terms:** Markets cause inequality; welfare redistributes. Key Takeaway Support policies that reduce extreme wealth disparity. Themes economics inequality social policy Mood analytical concerned Type policy educational When to use this quote - government budgeting - tax reform - social welfare design - community development Key Concepts redistributive justice public finance Questions to Reflect On - What balance between market freedom and redistribution is ideal? - How can social programs be made more effective? A Different Perspective Redistribution can discourage investment if poorly designed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bottom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom/) [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Concentration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentration/) [Concentration of wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentration-of-wealth/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Free market](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-market/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Modest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modest/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Notorious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notorious/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Poverty Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty-social-768329/) [Program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/program/) [Redistributing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/redistributing-1039086/) [Redistributing Resources](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/redistributing-resources-2218835/) [Resources](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resources/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social programs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-programs/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Wealth Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth-poverty-238964/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) ## Related quotes > [The root cause of poverty is social injustice and the bad government that abets it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-root-cause-of-poverty-is-social-injustice-and-the-bad-government/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [“Among foragers, where property is shared, poverty tends to be a nonissue. In his classic book Stone Age Economics, anthropologist Marshall Sahlins explains that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-ryan/among-foragers-where-property-is-shared-poverty-tends-to-be-a/) [Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-ryan/) > [“from two kinds of poverty: social poverty, which withholds from some people the opportunities available to others; and biological poverty, which puts the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/from-two-kinds-of-poverty-social-poverty-which-withholds-from-some/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [There are no quick fixes to Indigenous poverty and social disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-fraser/there-are-no-quick-fixes-to-indigenous-poverty-and-social-disaster/) [Malcolm Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-fraser/) > [The world's most 'primitive' people have few possessions, but they are not poor. Poverty is not a certain small amount of goods, nor is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-sahlins/the-world-s-most-primitive-people-have-few-possessions-but-they-are/) [Marshall Sahlins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-sahlins/) > [“Poverty is a social status.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-ryan/poverty-is-a-social-status/) [Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-ryan/) > [Poverty is not a certain small amount of goods, nor is it just a relation between means and ends; above all it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-ryan/poverty-is-not-a-certain-small-amount-of-goods-nor-is-it-just-a/) [Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-ryan/) > [“Throughout history, societies have suffered from two kinds of poverty: social poverty, which withholds from some people the opportunities available to others; and biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/throughout-history-societies-have-suffered-from-two-kinds-of-poverty/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [Stealing has always been a way of redistributing wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-conyers/stealing-has-always-been-a-way-of-redistributing-wealth/) [John Conyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-conyers/) > [Redistributing tokens is a balancing act. In most cases, forks probably want to keep ownership for users constant so users have at least the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-ehrsam/redistributing-tokens-is-a-balancing-act-in-most-cases-forks-probably/) [Fred Ehrsam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-ehrsam/) > ['Redistributing the wealth' - that phrase gets used so much that you almost get numb to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/redistributing-the-wealth-that-phrase-gets-used-so-much-that-you/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [It's true that redistributing income to the needy is politically easier in a growing economy than in a stagnant one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/it-s-true-that-redistributing-income-to-the-needy-is-politically/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Some dozens of years ago, there was a debate conducted between people insisting that "this loaf of bread must be redistributed," and the others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/some-dozens-of-years-ago-there-was-a-debate-conducted-between-people/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Ironically, in the full-fledged transfer society, where governments busy themselves redistributing income by means of hundreds of distinct programs, hardly anyone is better off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/ironically-in-the-full-fledged-transfer-society-where-governments/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [The real question is whether the federal government should be in the business of redistributing wealth to equalize the economic status of every state,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/the-real-question-is-whether-the-federal-government-should-be-in-the/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) ## More by Linda McQuaig > [A tight-money policy reinforces inequality in two ways. Its high interest rates disproportionately reward the rich, and the resulting unemployment disproportionately punishes the poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mcquaig/a-tight-money-policy-reinforces-inequality-in-two-ways-its-high/) [Linda McQuaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcquaig/) > [“ Jeremy Bentham argued that 'even in the best of times the great mass of citizens will most probably possess few resources other than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mcquaig/jeremy-bentham-argued-that-even-in-the-best-of-times-the-great-mass/) [Linda McQuaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcquaig/) > [The absurdity of public-choice theory is captured by Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen in the following little scenario: "Can you direct me to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mcquaig/the-absurdity-of-public-choice-theory-is-captured-by-nobel-prize/) [Linda McQuaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcquaig/) > [The statement, "The debt problem has become so extreme that we have no choice but to cut social spending" is presented as an objective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mcquaig/the-statement-the-debt-problem-has-become-so-extreme-that-we-have-no/) [Linda McQuaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcquaig/) > [The basic issue is whether the financial elite or the government on behalf of the people should have the profit from creating money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mcquaig/the-basic-issue-is-whether-the-financial-elite-or-the-government-on/) [Linda McQuaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcquaig/) > [Even before winning its majority, Harper's Republican-styl e Conservative party - well to the right Canada's traditional Progressive Conservative Party - managed to win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mcquaig/even-before-winning-its-majority-harper-s-republican-styl-e/) [Linda McQuaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcquaig/) > [For society to function some kind of reasonable balance has to be stuck between the competing interests of creditors and debtors. Although the mandate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mcquaig/for-society-to-function-some-kind-of-reasonable-balance-has-to-be/) [Linda McQuaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcquaig/) > [High interest rates focus on the revenue of a parasitic class.Historically the financial system has been structured in favour of moneyed interests, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mcquaig/high-interest-rates-focus-on-the-revenue-of-a-parasitic-class/) [Linda McQuaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcquaig/) > [High interest rates focus on the revenue of a parasitic class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mcquaig/high-interest-rates-focus-on-the-revenue-of-a-parasitic-class-2/) [Linda McQuaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcquaig/) > [Anyone observing U.S. politics in recent years could easily conclude that lying about having sex is a serious offense worthy of impeachment, while lying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mcquaig/anyone-observing-u-s-politics-in-recent-years-could-easily-conclude/) [Linda McQuaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcquaig/) [Explore all 11 Linda McQuaig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcquaig/) ## More Bottom quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/filmmaking-like-sex-isn-t-a-polite-enterprise-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [I was terrible student. I was capable, but I never like being told what to do, so I was always in the bottom class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-was-terrible-student-i-was-capable-but-i-never-like-being-told-what/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [The contempt for law and the contempt for the human consequences of lawbreaking go from the bottom to the top of American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-contempt-for-law-and-the-contempt-for-the-human-consequences-of/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [I plead with my Moonlight fans to give this show a chance if they let me give it a chance. I can’t do Moonlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-o-loughlin/i-plead-with-my-moonlight-fans-to-give-this-show-a-chance-if-they-let/) [Alex O'Loughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-o-loughlin/) > [Well, the bottom line is that I'm extremely pleased with 'The Stupids.' I'm pleased that it's coming out, and it should look good. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/well-the-bottom-line-is-that-i-m-extremely-pleased-with-the-stupids-i/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [Search for the seed of good in every adversity. Master that principle and you will own a precious shield that will guard you well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/search-for-the-seed-of-good-in-every-adversity-master-that-principle/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [I would have had a clause in my contract; I would've definitely put some fine print in my contract that said, "If the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/i-would-have-had-a-clause-in-my-contract-i-would-ve-definitely-put/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [When I hit bottom, I can attack the problem and get to where I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/when-i-hit-bottom-i-can-attack-the-problem-and-get-to-where-i-want-to/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The bottom line, in the professional level, no matter where you go, there's going to be competition. That's what it is. At the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/the-bottom-line-in-the-professional-level-no-matter-where-you-go/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [Life is a climb and it's a struggle getting to the top but the drop to the bottom can be quick and so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/life-is-a-climb-and-it-s-a-struggle-getting-to-the-top-but-the-drop/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought you ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/one-thing-you-learned-as-a-cubs-fan-when-you-bought-you-ticket-you/) [Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/) > [The political satirist usually votes against their own interests, but the bottom line is that it doesn't really matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/the-political-satirist-usually-votes-against-their-own-interests-but/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) [Browse all 2,558 Bottom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The free market is notorious for distributing resources in a highly unequal manner, with great concentrations of wealth at the top and poverty at the bottom. 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