Prosperity shared is not prosperity gone

Being included on any list ranking the wealthiest in the country is a moment that inevitably invites celebration. But in these times when billionaires are viewed increasingly more like Lex Luthor rather than Bruce Wayne, such lists inevitably invite scrutiny because whenever the public sees money concentrated in a few hands, it raises unavoidable questions about inequality and sustainability.

I have always believed that business success and shared prosperity can exist together. Helping other people climb the economic ladder is not incompatible with being successful at business. It is, in fact, a smart and sustainable way to be successful because it strengthens the very ecosystem that makes business possible.

Enterprises don’t exist in a vacuum. In the broader sense, there are networks of supply chains, marketplaces, service industries, labor ecosystems and communities that absorb the risk or soften the shocks, depending on how healthy they are. It is a living system: if one part is weak, the rest eventually feels it. “Ang sakit ng kalingkingan ay ramdam ng buong katawan.”

It’s too easy to see wealth as a zero-sum concept; meaning, one person’s gains must come at another person’s loss. That belief is economically wrong and socially damaging. When we share opportunity, we are not taking away from ourselves. Instead, we are investing in sustainable growth by creating stability in the places where our own growth rests. That is why I often imagine this as a pyramid: very few at the top, but most at the bottom. And yet, it is the bottom that provides stability.

This is especially true for MSMEs, which are not merely an “important sector” in policy documents but the pulse of real livelihoods. Almost all enterprises in our country and across ASEAN are MSMEs. They employ people. They distribute income even away from the urban centers. They cultivate skills through practical employment. And because of their sheer number and nimble size, they can keep the economy from collapsing when conditions become too hostile for the big guys to maneuver swiftly.

I know first-hand that the health of MSMEs is not separate from the performance of larger corporations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, when the small businesses in the supply chain struggled or shut down, bigger firms felt the shock. When tenants in commercial centers are unable to sustain operations, the ripple continues upwards to the leasing companies. When foot traffic disappears, demand weakens not only for one company, but for entire categories of business.

This is a “Circle of Prosperity” that becomes a business philosophy. When MSMEs do well, they hire people and pay wages. When employees earn better incomes and gain marketable skills, they are more prepared to start small enterprises. As those enterprises grow, they create jobs for others. And when these businesses remain open, they provide stability for the economy.

I believe it is possible to be good at business while also sharing opportunities with others. The moment we treat success as something that can only be preserved by hoarding advantage, we misunderstand what makes success durable in the first place.

This is very important, especially as it concerns those at the top of the pyramid. They often control what happens next, not because they own everything, but because they influence the flow of opportunities. For many aspiring entrepreneurs, the obstacle is rarely lack of talent. It is lack of access. It is lack of networks. It is lack of capital, market access and mentorship.

We’re not talking here about philanthropy; there are plenty of avenues for that. The goal is opportunity with structure that can lead to entrepreneurship, stable livelihoods and ultimately wealth creation that is not dependent on doleouts that strip people of dignity and self-determination.

Along with me on that prestigious list I mentioned at the beginning of this column are some names who have consistently stepped up in helping others succeed. The advantages they secured from established systems – the networks, markets and credibility – they treated them not as the finish lines, but as starting points for helping those at the bottom.

But “helping” must be deliberate, and it must be engineered into systems. Otherwise, it could end up as a one-time assistance. This means sharing value chains through things like supplier development programs, upskilling through mentorship programs and technology sharing and for those who are in a position to influence policy, using their access to reduce regulatory complexity and lowering the barriers to entry.

Anyone, even non-billionaires on the Forbes list, can help. But like Aunt May told Spider-Man, with great power comes great responsibility. Those who can do more should do more. Not only because it’s the right thing to do, but it’s the smarter thing to do. There is a broader national interest at stake. Economic integration and digital transformation are changing how competition works. As technology reshapes supply chains and marketplaces, MSMEs need practical upscaling so that the base of this economic pyramid is stable. They need support to adopt digital systems, improve productivity, strengthen quality control and reach customers beyond local limitations. Inclusion in the digital economy will determine whether entrepreneurship remains an open avenue or becomes a privilege reserved only for those already positioned to access it.

When MSMEs are strengthened, the entire economy becomes more adaptive. That’s what makes a country resilient in the face of instability, fragmentation and climate-related risks. It’s not the responsibility of government alone, but also of those in the private sector.

If we want a nation where more Filipinos can rise up that pyramid, then we must treat prosperity as shared work. Believe that doing good at business and doing good for others are not mutually exclusive – they are the same mission viewed from different angles.

Prosperity shared is not prosperity gone.