Affluence as Flow: Redefining Wealth for Sustainable Outcomes
The norms of industrial society have spurred today’s fast-paced, growth-driven world, and with that, a narrow definition of affluence. Many associate it with accumulation, holding vast reserves of wealth, and often concentrating resources among a select few. But what if we were to reimagine affluence not as a static reservoir, but as a dynamic flow?
This idea isn’t entirely novel. The term “affluent” finds its roots in the Latin word affluere, which means “to flow freely.” And isn’t it poetic that the very essence of wealth and prosperity is rooted in the concept of free-flowing energy?
True affluence arises when resources — financial, knowledge-based, and emotional — circulate freely among many, instead of becoming stuck or stagnant.
The Imperative for Flow-Centric Wealth
We find ourselves at a critical juncture. The World Economic Forum has noted that, as of 2020, the richest 1% of the population holds twice the wealth of 6.9 billion people combined. Such concentrated wealth has multifaceted, negative implications — rising socio-economic inequalities, increased resource strain, and diminished social mobility. This is not humanity or planet at its best.
