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Wealth and poverty What does 'wealth' mean?

Many people suffer with the consequences of extreme poverty, particularly in the developing world. Religions agree that more should be done to help those who are suffering.

Part of Religious StudiesHuman rights - Unit 2

What does 'wealth' mean?

Wealth refers to the amount of money and possessions someone has. Unfortunately, wealth is not evenly spread around the world and this means that some people are extremely wealthy, while others go through life with too little money to live on.

People can acquire wealth in many different ways including:

  • receiving an income from working for someone
  • starting their own business
  • inheriting money, possibly from the death of a loved one
  • through criminal means, such as fraud or burglary
  • activities such as gambling

The society we live in is often described as being materialistic, because people are often thought to place a lot of emphasis on money and possessions, such as clothes and the latest technology.