Even leaving aside rich using their status to solidify their position, consider this: are the policies that maximize GDP and lead to high wealth inequality the same policies that maximize the prosperity of the middle 50% of the population? No economic rule I know of guarantees that to be the case.<p>Wealth isn&#x27;t created in a vacuum. Wealth can only be created in places with a high level of social order. That social order isn&#x27;t created by exceptional individuals, it&#x27;s created by the behavior and attitudes of ordinary people. Given that, why should societies not structure themselves to maximize the prosperity of the majority?