The Abolition of Extremes of Wealth and Poverty
A just society eliminates extreme poverty and extreme wealth; economic systems should enable all to live with dignity.
The Bahá'í writings teach that extreme wealth alongside extreme poverty is a symptom of social injustice. 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave extensive guidance on profit-sharing arrangements, progressive taxation, and workers' rights. The goal is not equality of outcome but the elimination of dehumanizing poverty and obscene wealth.
The arrangements of the circumstances of the people must be such that poverty shall disappear.
Bahá'í economic principles anticipate modern social democratic and distributive justice frameworks while grounding them in spiritual principles.
Foundations of World Unity
Written about in
- What the Bahá'í Faith says about justice
Both extreme poverty and extreme wealth are named as problems. The stated aim is arrangements under which poverty disappears, which puts the weight on structures rather than on almsgiving.