What we owe to the global poor

Abstract

Wealthy nations’ obligations to the global poor are primarily duties of assistance in establishing domestic institutions rather than requirements for continuous wealth redistribution or the achievement of global socio-economic equality. This position rests on empirical evidence from development economics indicating that institutional quality—specifically stable property rights, the rule of law, and effective governance—is the primary determinant of long-term economic prosperity, outweighing factors such as geographical location or market integration. Because successful institutions require broad domestic support and authenticity to persist, external aid is limited by practical and moral constraints, including the risks of paternalism and the necessity of internal viability. Furthermore, the moral requirement for egalitarian redistribution found within states does not extend to the international realm because the global order lacks the shared coercive legal structures that trigger domestic distributive obligations. Instead, duties to the global poor are justified by a combination of enlightened self-interest and a universal respect for the moral powers of individuals, which necessitates ensuring that all societies possess the institutional capacity to be self-governing and “well-ordered.” Once this institutional target is achieved, further redistributive claims between societies lack a sufficient moral foundation. – AI-generated abstract.