Economic oppression is a cause for concern around the world. Many are oppressed in economic terms by governments and others. Economic oppression, rendered the act of providing economic restrictions on individuals, groups or institutions, takes place in many countries. Economic oppression that can take several forms including the denial of economic opportunities, the practice of economic discrimination based on race, sex, gender, ethnicity and religion, low wage, and bonded or forced labor puts significant hindrances to economic well-being and reduces the chance of development in other aspects of lives. Because of economic oppression, many are deprived of their development in developed, developing and less developed countries, though deprivation is more in less developed countries compared to developed countries.
There are many economic, social, political and other causes of economic oppression. Causes are direct and indirect and local, national and transboundary. Inherent flaws in economic systems are important causes but oppression increases without well-devised policy support in many countries. Capitalism, which fosters economic growth and which is the better economic system, is rendered oppressive but it intensifies oppression when it is not associated with required policies including well-devised distributive policies. Socialism, another economic system, does not intend to cause economic oppression but it discourages private ownership of properties, slows economic growth and leads to economic oppression by restricting economic freedom with centralized decisions. Also, enslavement, segregation, discrimination in employment policies and opportunities, group-based harassment and inequality in opportunity lead to economic oppression.
Among other direct and indirect causes, the corruption of government, dogmatic social norms, political repression and discrimination and transboundary causes (including coercive geo-economic policies) play an important role in economic oppression, which began in the long past but whose significance has been changing over time, in many countries. No doubt, government corruption, especially when widespread, leads to economic oppression indirectly by discouraging investment and limiting economic growth. Also, many are de facto oppressed in economic terms in those countries where political repression is high. Dogmatic social norms cause less economic opportunity to different groups of people in many countries including Dalit in India and women in Afghanistan. Coercive geo-economic actions, especially when lengthy, also slow economic growth and cause economic oppression.
Among the countries, developed countries definitely provide more economic opportunities, though different developed countries have a long history of economic oppression of different groups including black, compared to less developed and developing countries. Consequently, economic oppression is more in less developed and developing countries. Resource constraints that make it difficult especially for less developed countries to provide deserving opportunities is definitely an important cause. But this is not the case alone. Ill-devised policies, corruption, political repression and favoritism, among the other causes, also significantly lead to economic oppression among many in less developed countries. Dogmatic and caste based social norms exist more in many less developed, or even developing, countries. Consequently, different groups of people are restricted directly or indirectly in economic activities.
Despite economic oppression exists, economic opportunities are increasing. But it is definitely desired that economic oppression is ended altogether across the world. In this respect, effective policy based and other efforts are needed to address all the structural and other causes of economic oppression including economic system based causes. Economic opportunities need to be given to those who are economically oppressed in different countries. But less developed and developing countries definitely need to do more to end economic oppression by providing increased economic opportunities. In this respect, well-devised policies are needed in terms of the distribution of resources. But governments need to refrain from the oppression of any individuals or groups in economic terms because of political rivalry and other causes.
The roles of private and other organizations, along with government organizations, are also important to end economic oppression across countries around the world. Along with the creation of economic opportunities, they can increasingly promote the economic freedom of economically oppressed people especially in less developed and developing counties. No less important is that the transboundary causes of economic oppression need to be addressed. In this respect, strengthening global, regional and other international economic institutions, along with increased transboundary cooperation, is imperative. Increased transboundary cooperation is also needed to end forced labor, in which criminals from both sending and receiving countries are involved, often with direct and indirect support from the concerned authorities.
