Publication: Gelirin adil dağılımı ve zekât
Abstract
Çağdaş iktisat sistemleri, gelir dağılımındaki eşitsizlik ile yoksullukla mücadelede başarısız olmuşlardır. Dolayısı ile toplumun büyük bir kısmı temel ihtiyaçlarını karşılayamamakta ve zor durumda hayatlarını geçirmek zorunda kalmaktadır. Geleneksel iktisatçılara göre, kapitalizmin bu sorunları çözmek için alt yapısında değişmeler yapılmalıdır. Önerdikleri değişmelerde %2,5 civarında vergilendirilme ve faizin sıfıra getirilmesi temel olarak yer almaktadır. İslam iktisadında, genel olarak %2,5 oranında zenginlerden zekât toplanır ve faizli işlemler sarihen yasaklanmıştır. Zekât, zenginlerin mallarında fakirlere ait bir haktır ve zorunlu olarak alınır. Böylece, zenginliğin yoğunlaşması engellenir ve toplumun üst kesiminden alt kesime gelir transferi sağlanmış olur. Netice olarak gelir dağılımındaki eşitsizlik yok olur ve adil gelir dağılımı sonucunda herkes temel ihtiyaçlarına kavuşmuş olur. Geçmişte zekât, İslam ülkelerinde yoksulluğun ortadan kaldırılmasını başarmıştır. Günümüzde İslam ülkelerinde zekât potansiyeli yüksektir ama toplanan zekât miktarı potansiyelinden daha azdır. Bunun nedeni ise, sistematik ve zorunlu bir şekilde devletçe zekâtın toplanmamasıdır. Ayrıca İslam ülkeleriler, zekâtı gelişme ve yoksullukla mücadele politikalarında kullanmamaktadır. Dolayısı ile yoksulluk ve gelir dağılımında eşitsizlik sorununa maruz kalmışlardır. Çalışmanın sonucuna göre, zekât bir politika aracı olarak devletçe kullanılmalıdır. Böylece yoksulluk ve gelir eşitsizliği azaltılabilir. Ancak zekâtın yönetimindeki güçlükler ortadan kaldırılmalıdır.
Modern economic systems have failed to eradicate poverty and inequality in the distribution of income. As a result, a major part of the society is unable to fulfil its basic needs and are left to live in bizarre conditions. According to the conventional economists, the structure of capitalism must be changed in order to solve these two issues. The main suggestions provided include bringing taxation rate near to 2.5 percent and interest rate to zero. In Islamic economics, zakat is collected form the rich people generally at the rate of 2.5 % and interest based transactions are clearly banned. Zakat is the right of poor in the wealth of rich and is collected as an obligation. Thus, concentration of wealth is prevented and transfer of income from the upper segment to the lower segment of the society is ensured. As a result, income inequality is eradicated and due to the just distribution of income everyone acquires their basic needs. In the past, zakat was able to eradicate poverty. In latest days, potential of zakat collections is high in Muslim countries but the collection is far behind from its potential. Moreover, Muslim countries are not utilizing zakat as a policy for development and tackling poverty. Thus, they are facing the problem of poverty and inequality in the distribution of income. According to the result of the study, zakat should be used as a political tool by the government. This will in turn cause poverty and income inequality to decrease. However, problems related to the management of the zakat must be removed.
Modern economic systems have failed to eradicate poverty and inequality in the distribution of income. As a result, a major part of the society is unable to fulfil its basic needs and are left to live in bizarre conditions. According to the conventional economists, the structure of capitalism must be changed in order to solve these two issues. The main suggestions provided include bringing taxation rate near to 2.5 percent and interest rate to zero. In Islamic economics, zakat is collected form the rich people generally at the rate of 2.5 % and interest based transactions are clearly banned. Zakat is the right of poor in the wealth of rich and is collected as an obligation. Thus, concentration of wealth is prevented and transfer of income from the upper segment to the lower segment of the society is ensured. As a result, income inequality is eradicated and due to the just distribution of income everyone acquires their basic needs. In the past, zakat was able to eradicate poverty. In latest days, potential of zakat collections is high in Muslim countries but the collection is far behind from its potential. Moreover, Muslim countries are not utilizing zakat as a policy for development and tackling poverty. Thus, they are facing the problem of poverty and inequality in the distribution of income. According to the result of the study, zakat should be used as a political tool by the government. This will in turn cause poverty and income inequality to decrease. However, problems related to the management of the zakat must be removed.