Economics Quote by Wendell Berry
““This economy is based upon consumption, which ultimately serves, not the ordinary consumers, but a tiny class of excessively wealthy people for whose further enrichment the economy is understood (by them) to exist. For the purpose of their further enrichment, these plutocrats and the great corporations that serve them have controlled the economy by the purchase of political power. The purchased governments do not act in the interest of the governed and their country; they act instead as agents for the corporations.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Unsettling of America” (1977)
The economy serves a tiny wealthy elite, who control politics to enrich themselves, while ordinary consumers are ignored.
In simple terms: Economy benefits the rich, not the many.
Key Takeaway
Challenge systemic inequality.
Themes
economics
politics
inequality
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- voting behavior
- policy advocacy
- consumer awareness
Key Concepts
wealth concentration
corporate power
Questions to Reflect On
- What reforms could reduce elite influence?
- How can citizens reclaim economic agency?
A Different Perspective
Complex issues of market dynamics also matter.
