Do the Benefits of a Competitive Society Extend only to those Willing to Compete?

The benefits of a competitive society extend only to those willing to compete.
Describe a specific situation in which someone not willing to compete might benefit in a competitive society. Discuss what you think determines when the benefits of a competitive society extend only to those willing to compete.

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Competition is defined as a contest between people or groups of people for resources. Societies adopting capitalistic systems encourage competition as a way to strive for efficient economies. In a competitive society, benefits mainly extend to those who are willing to compete. However, societies that push for an increasing middle class and wish to decrease rates of poverty will adopt mechanisms that extend the benefits of competition to the people as a whole, including those who cannot or are willing not to compete.

In a competitive society, the benefits extend to those willing to compete (or more aptly, the winners) in various ways. They gain more resources in terms of capital and land. They exude a more "prestigious" image in society as top companies and players in the economy. They are able to attract more trust and therefore, more investors. Furthermore, they are able to use their monetary gains to create more products and compete even more in the marketplace. These "winners" also are able to extend their influence beyond their business niche and even delve into politics. That is, they can buy votes, mold policies, and create laws will benefit their business practices.

In a democratic society, a government has an interest in decreasing poverty and increasing the middle class who will gain skills to compete in the marketplace. In order to reduce the gap between the rich and poor, a country such as the United States will implement a progressive tax system that will take a percentage of resources from economically successful individuals and companies. Revenue gained from these taxes help provide free education, welfare benefits, infrastructure, etc. These government programs benefit not only the competitors in society but more so, those who are not willing to or cannot compete. Many programs are designed to provide opportunities for non-competitors to gain the resources to compete. While a nation cannot force people to compete, the promise of a higher quality of life provides an incentive for citizens to pursue higher education and lucrative work.


Indeed, a society that encourages competition will more likely than not have citizens who are driven to create the best products and services. The incentive to make money and be rewarded in multiple other ways (e.g., power and influence) keep businesses and individuals up on their feet with a goal to get on top. Of course, not everyone in a society is willing to compete or has the resources to do so. In the effort to make sure that non-competitors have the chance climb onto the competitive ladder, societies will take a percentage of the competitors' gains to fund various social programs. As is often said, a society is only as strong as its weakest member.