--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Corporations don't create jobs, customers…" description: "\"Corporations don't create jobs, customers do. So when all the economic gains go to the top, as they're doing now, the vast majority of Americans don't ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/robert-reich-1333_business_corporations-don-t-create-jobs-customers_353191.jpg" --- # Corporations don't create jobs, customers do. So when all… ![“Corporations don't create jobs, customers do. So when all the economic gains go to the top, as they're doing now, the vast majority of Americans don't have enough purchasing power to buy the things corporations want to sell - which means businesses stop creating enough jobs.” quote by Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/robert-reich-1333_business_corporations-don-t-create-jobs-customers_353191.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/robert-reich-1333_business_corporations-don-t-create-jobs-customers_353191.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/robert-reich-1333_business_corporations-don-t-create-jobs-customers_353191.jpg) > “Corporations don't create jobs, customers do. So when all the economic gains go to the top, as they're doing now, the vast majority of Americans don't have enough purchasing power to buy the things corporations want to sell - which means businesses stop creating enough jobs.” [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Jobs stem from customer demand; when wealth concentrates at the top, demand falls, reducing firms' ability to hire. **In simple terms:** Jobs need customers; inequality hurts hiring. Key Takeaway Broaden wealth, boost demand. Themes economics inequality employment Mood analytical critical Type economic political When to use this quote - policy reform - progressive taxation - consumer incentives - small business support Key Concepts demand‑driven growth wealth distribution market dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can policies increase consumer power? - What role do wages play? A Different Perspective Changing demand alone may not create jobs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Creating jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating-jobs/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Purchasing power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purchasing-power/) ## Related quotes > [No economy can continue to function when the vast middle class and everybody else don't have enough purchasing power to buy what the economy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/no-economy-can-continue-to-function-when-the-vast-middle-class-and/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Business exists to supply goods and services to customers and economic surplus to society, rather than to supply jobs to workers and managers or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/business-exists-to-supply-goods-and-services-to-customers-and/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [If the practice persists of covering government deficits with the issue of notes, then the day will come without fail, sooner or later, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-practice-persists-of-covering-government-deficits-with-the/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [ Now, the black man here was so-called free by \[Abe\] Lincoln 100 years ago. The black man in America has an - has a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/now-the-black-man-here-was-so-called-free-by-abe-lincoln-100-years/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The illusiveness of this concept of national income is to be seen in its dependence on changes in the purchasing power of the monetary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-illusiveness-of-this-concept-of-national-income-is-to-be-seen-in/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Increased wages, higher pensions, more unemployment insurance, all are of no avail if the purchasing power of money falls faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-baruch/increased-wages-higher-pensions-more-unemployment-insurance-all-are/) [Bernard Baruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-baruch/) > [Exercise your purchasing power as a consumer, volunteer and bring joy to those in need, and share your experiences, tell your stories, and inspire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/exercise-your-purchasing-power-as-a-consumer-volunteer-and-bring-joy/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [It is production that creates purchasing power, not the printing press!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/it-is-production-that-creates-purchasing-power-not-the-printing-press/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Do not let yourselves be discouraged or embittered by the smallness of the success you are likely to achieve in trying to make life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-babson/do-not-let-yourselves-be-discouraged-or-embittered-by-the-smallness/) [Roger Babson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-babson/) > [An underpaid man is a customer reduced in purchasing power. He cannot buy. Business depression is caused by weakened purchasing power. Purchasing power is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/an-underpaid-man-is-a-customer-reduced-in-purchasing-power-he-cannot/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [In a monetary system, most of us live near our work with a house, car, and lifestyle we can afford (or, all too often,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/in-a-monetary-system-most-of-us-live-near-our-work-with-a-house-car/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [When capital owners are few, the private-property conduits of necessity create vast savings reservoirs for those few. If there were many owners, the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-o-kelso/when-capital-owners-are-few-the-private-property-conduits-of/) [Louis O. Kelso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-o-kelso/) > [Property may be destroyed and money may lose its purchasing power; but, character, health, knowledge and good judgement will always be in demand under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-babson/property-may-be-destroyed-and-money-may-lose-its-purchasing-power-but/) [Roger Babson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-babson/) > [Purchasing power parities are not a reasonable method for comparing households across countries or currencies. The reason for this is simply that PPPs are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/purchasing-power-parities-are-not-a-reasonable-method-for-comparing/) [Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/) > [The price of every thing rises and falls from time to time and place to place; and with every such change the purchasing power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-marshall/the-price-of-every-thing-rises-and-falls-from-time-to-time-and-place/) [Alfred Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-marshall/) ## More by Robert Reich > [The Democratic Party is DEAD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/the-democratic-party-is-dead/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [During three decades from 1947 to 1977, the nation implemented what might be called a basic bargain with American workers. Employers paid them enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/during-three-decades-from-1947-to-1977-the-nation-implemented-what/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [A leader is someone who steps back from the entire system and tries to build a more collaborative, more innovative system that will work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/a-leader-is-someone-who-steps-back-from-the-entire-system-and-tries/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [The faith that anyone could move from rags to riches - with enough guts and gumption, hard work and nose to the grindstone -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/the-faith-that-anyone-could-move-from-rags-to-riches-with-enough-guts/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [If you give up on politics, you're giving up on democracy. And if you give up on democracy, you're basically saying to the moneyed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/if-you-give-up-on-politics-you-re-giving-up-on-democracy-and-if-you/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Given that ever-broadening array of options and alternatives, as consumers and investors, we are often bewildered. We need guidance. That's where today's brands come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/given-that-ever-broadening-array-of-options-and-alternatives-as/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [I knew Hillary Clinton from undergraduate days and was enormously impressed with her. She was a terrific energy and enthusiasm, and a great organizer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/i-knew-hillary-clinton-from-undergraduate-days-and-was-enormously/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Public employees should have the right to bargain for better wages and working conditions, just like all employees do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/public-employees-should-have-the-right-to-bargain-for-better-wages/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Limits should be placed on how big big banks can become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/limits-should-be-placed-on-how-big-big-banks-can-become/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Every organization, no matter who it is, just follow the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/every-organization-no-matter-who-it-is-just-follow-the-money/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Community colleges are great bargains. They avoid the fancy amenities four-year liberal arts colleges need in order to lure the children of the middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/community-colleges-are-great-bargains-they-avoid-the-fancy-amenities/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Any bank that is too big to fail is too big. Period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/any-bank-that-is-too-big-to-fail-is-too-big-period/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Today, for good or ill, people are thinking about many social problems from the standpoint of their own kitchen tables. I think the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/today-for-good-or-ill-people-are-thinking-about-many-social-problems/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [There's sort of a chilling effect on non-profits and the media and a lot of other places because the establishment is so powerful. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/there-s-sort-of-a-chilling-effect-on-non-profits-and-the-media-and-a/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [We already have an annual wealth tax on homes, the major asset of the middle class. It's called the property tax. Why not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/we-already-have-an-annual-wealth-tax-on-homes-the-major-asset-of-the/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) [Explore all 255 Robert Reich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Corporations don't create jobs, customers do. So when all the economic gains go to the top, as they're doing now, the vast majority of Americans don't have enough purchasing power to buy the things corporations want to sell - which means businesses stop creating enough jobs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Reich" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/corporations-don-t-create-jobs-customers-do-so-when-all-the-economic/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/corporations-don-t-create-jobs-customers-do-so-when-all-the-economic/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/robert-reich-1333_business_corporations-don-t-create-jobs-customers_353191.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/robert-reich-1333_business_corporations-don-t-create-jobs-customers_353191.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/robert-reich-1333_business_corporations-don-t-create-jobs-customers_353191.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Corporations don't create jobs, customers do. So when all the economic gains go to the top, as they're doing…” — Robert Reich", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert Reich", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Corporations don't create jobs, customers do....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/corporations-don-t-create-jobs-customers-do-so-when-all-the-economic/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/corporations-don-t-create-jobs-customers-do-so-when-all-the-economic/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```