Modern economies operate on fiat currency, which is legal tender not backed by a physical commodity like gold or silver but by the government that issued it. Because fiat money lacks intrinsic value, its primary distinction is not stability, but the varying velocity of its depreciation. To gain an objective understanding of value, economists often look to hard assets or a basket of goods (a representative sampling of consumer products).
Capitalism is defined by the Cambridge dictionary as, ‘An economic and political system in which property, business, and industry are controlled by private owners rather than by the state, with the purpose of making a profit.’ Following this definition, not every country can be considered ‘capitalist’.
The rate of return for most non-agricultural activities will fall to naught, while the rate of return for farming will soar high. The organized sector, assisted by interest-driven financing, keeps prices of its products and services high by controlling production and employment. Due to the confusion created by the illusion of consistently rising prices, commoners fail to respond effectively.
In Islamic economic framework, increase in investment through entrepreneurial activities could increase the labor demand and wages. Increase in wages will improve the standard of living of poor labor class and enable them to improve their productivity further.
Interest based financial system discourages investment in socially optimal profitable projects, but which are not favored because of relative cost comparison from the market interest rate. If sales do not increase, it may lead to business cycle fluctuations with unplanned increase in inventories. With increased pressure to service debt, the environmental degradation and human resource exploitation may become common and secondary concerns.
It is an empirical observation that people desire to have smooth consumption throughout their lifetimes. Lifecycle consumption hypothesis (LCH) and permanent income hypothesis (PIH) try to explain that in micro-founded framework. Both negate the Keynes assertion that average propensity to consume (APC) falls as income rises. Some micro-economic evidence is also broadly consistent with LCH and PIH, at least in advanced economies.
Islam allows wage differentials based on productivity differences, but does not allow discrimination. Furthermore, if wage differentials are because of characteristics that require equitable distribution and access to resources, then, Islam has unique mechanisms that ensure equitable distribution of resources and opportunities.
With higher levels of investment, circulation of wealth and competitive markets, innovation and quality enhancement will be the only means of sustaining the edge for firms in an Islamic economic framework. Hence, there will be more focus on innovation, customer satisfaction and hence speed of innovation and productivity is expected to increase. The supply side of innovation, which is the human capital, will also be incentivized through employment creation as a result of removing concentration and idleness of wealth.
As per Islamic principles, within certain bounds, the market forces can operate and will determine which goods should be produced and offered at what price. The major difference from capitalistic system is that rather than having a fixed compensation, the capital will only earn a share in actual profit/loss out of the production process in which it is used.
In neoclassical growth theories, the emphasis is on increasing savings and technological progress which brings about increase in capital per worker and eventually output per worker. In ‘endogenous growth theory’ models, more sophisticated work has been done by determining the factors which affect the technology, human capital and savings. This article analyzes whether Islamic economic principles have the capacity to help build these elements for sustainable growth and development.
Islamic Economics Project 