Economic exchange is strictly a zero-sum game where one party's gain equals another's loss
Economic exchange is not strictly a zero-sum game; trade, entrepreneurship, and value creation routinely generate mutual gains where overall wealth is expanded rather than merely redistributed.
The claim posits that economic exchange is strictly a zero-sum game. Standard economic theory and empirical studies on trade, growth, and wealth creation (such as papers 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6) show that economic interactions frequently create positive-sum outcomes through innovation, cooperation, and productivity growth. Therefore, the claim is clearly refuted by the overwhelming consensus that trade creates mutual value.
K. Zhao, E. Ferguson, L. Smillie. Prosocial Personality Traits Differentially Predict Egalitarianism, Generosity, and Reciprocity in Economic Games. 2016. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01137
Paper [0] demonstrates through economic games that wealth distribution tasks can be non-constant-sum, allowing for mutual gains via generosity and reciprocity.
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O. Matthew, Christian U. Ede, Romanus Anthony Osabohien, J. Ejemeyovwi, T. Ayanda, Joshua Okunbor. Interaction Effect of Tourism and Foreign Exchange Earnings on Economic Growth in Nigeria. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1177/0972150918812985
Paper [1] shows that foreign exchange earnings and tourism mutually enhance economic growth rather than representing a zero-sum transfer.
E. Oseifuah, A. Gyekye. Working capital management and shareholders' wealth creation: evidence from non-financial firms listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. 2017. https://doi.org/10.21511/IMFI.14(1).2017.08
Paper [2] indicates that effective working capital management creates joint value and enhances overall shareholders' wealth.
Sunday Otuya, Godspower Akpoyibo, Sunday Edike. Intellectual Capital and Shareholders’ Wealth. The Economic Value Added Approach. 2023. https://doi.org/10.37745/ejaafr.2013/vol11n73046
Paper [4] finds that efficient intellectual capital management generates positive corporate value and expands shareholders' wealth.
T. Ramesh. The Impact of Entrepreneurship on Economic Growth in India: A Socio - Economic and Political Analysis. 2024. https://doi.org/10.21275/sr24706101847
Paper [6] highlights how entrepreneurship and business creation generate new wealth and expand the aggregate economy, contradicting the zero-sum view.
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