Islamic economic system: from principles to microeconomics and macroeconomics fields (69)

Continuation

In economic development, the basic needs approach is a recent development.

Ibn Hazm, however, raised the issue of basic needs in the 11th century (994-1064).

According to him, basic needs consist of:

§  food;

§  drink;

§  clothing;

§  and shelter.

Ibn Hazm assigns to the government the responsibility to guarantee basic needs of the poor.

He also emphasized the role of the rich in this matter.

Shah Wali Allah (1703-1762 AD) analyses the adverse effect of high inequality in the distribution of income.

To him, income concentration leads to production of luxuries in the society which causes a socially undesirable product mix, increasing sufferings of the poor.

Used from paper of Abdul Ghafar Ismail and  Noraziah Che Arshad