Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Grade: A
Hong Kong no doubt boasts some of the wealthiest individuals the world has
seen, with bustling tourist hotspots packed with branded stores. If one was to
walk further down the streets of Hong Kong, the scene is no longer one of
bustling commerce, painted in the glow of billboards and shop signs, but one of
the sprawling and towering patches of grey and black. For many Hong Kongers,
this is their life – cage homes, unsanitary living conditions, a stagnant minimum
wage despite escalating living costs, and no promise of job security. Prosperity
concerns itself with the creation of a wealth of individuals and the strong
economic growth of the country. It would be mendacious to claim that prosperity
is the be-all and end-all of society, as inclusive growth, the fulfillment of
international obligations, and the safeguard of social wellbeing are all priorities
that should not be second fiddle to economic gains.
Proponents of the view that prosperity is all that matters would point to the fact
that prosperity is indubitably beneficial to society, insofar that individuals on
average enjoy higher standards of living, such as greater access to sanitary living
conditions, better social amenities, and so forth. Arguments have also been put
forth to suggest that more prosperous nations can do better at correcting social
inequality, as there is more money for redistribution. This is through direct
government intervention, or through the ‘trickle-down effect’.