Takers, Not Makers Report

Source: TOI

Context: The Oxfam International report, titled Takers, Not Makers, highlights the wealth extracted from India during British colonial rule, emphasizing the enduring economic and social inequalities shaped by colonial exploitation.

About Takers, Not Makers Report

• Released by: Oxfam International at the World Economic Forum 2025.

• Coverage: Focuses on wealth extraction during colonial rule, particularly by Britain, and its impact on global inequality. Highlights modern parallels of exploitation by multinational corporations.

• Focuses on wealth extraction during colonial rule, particularly by Britain, and its impact on global inequality.

• Highlights modern parallels of exploitation by multinational corporations.

• Data Insights: $64.82 trillion extracted from India by Britain (1765–1900), adjusted for today’s value. 33.8 trillion (52%) enriched the UK’s richest 10%; 32% benefited the middle class. India’s industrial output share fell from 25% (1750) to 2% (1900) due to protectionist policies targeting Asian textiles. Systemic exploitation persists, with wages in the Global South 87–95% lower than in the Global North.

• $64.82 trillion extracted from India by Britain (1765–1900), adjusted for today’s value.

• 33.8 trillion (52%) enriched the UK’s richest 10%; 32% benefited the middle class.

• India’s industrial output share fell from 25% (1750) to 2% (1900) due to protectionist policies targeting Asian textiles.

• Systemic exploitation persists, with wages in the Global South 87–95% lower than in the Global North.

• Significance: Exposes colonialism’s lasting impact on economic, societal, and institutional inequities. Critiques global systems like the WTO and World Bank for perpetuating these disparities. Links historical exploitation to contemporary issues like biopiracy, labor exploitation, and resource extraction.

• Exposes colonialism’s lasting impact on economic, societal, and institutional inequities.

• Critiques global systems like the WTO and World Bank for perpetuating these disparities.

• Links historical exploitation to contemporary issues like biopiracy, labor exploitation, and resource extraction.

About Oxfam:

• Established in: 1942 as the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief, during World War II.

• Headquarters: Oxford, United Kingdom.

• Aim: To alleviate global poverty and address inequalities through advocacy, development programs, and humanitarian aid.

• Functions: Operates in 79 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Focuses on education, health, public services, and inequality reduction. Campaigns against issues like tax evasion, climate change, and gender disparity.

• Operates in 79 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

• Focuses on education, health, public services, and inequality reduction.

• Campaigns against issues like tax evasion, climate change, and gender disparity.

Insta links:

• Colonialism