“Wealth is not in a fat wallet” | Choosing with capital

The way we handle money is not a technical issue, but a human choice and responsibility. That was what Piet Mars, co-founder of AFAS, and economist Paul Schenderling told the more than 100 entrepreneurs at the ‘Choosing with Capital’ event in Renswoude on Tuesday. “Wealth is not in a fat wallet, but in what you can change.”

Piet Mars told how his perspective as an entrepreneur tilted after a trip to Cambodia. The impression of children without homes and hundreds of people running after him hoping for food did not leave him. “I came back treasure-rich - not through money, but through insight,” he said. For Mars, wealth is a responsibility. “It's not about money, it's about people. That's my investment policy.”

Decent price

Paul Schenderling portrayed the reality of millions of workers in the global South. They are often underpaid and work too long hours. According to him, companies in the North perpetuate that inequality and exploitation. He countered with an appeal to Isaiah 5 and Micah 2.

“Sufficient is the new efficient,” he argued. Not produce more and cheaper, but produce in a way that treats everyone in the chain decently. Schenderling warned that there is “large-scale extraction of value from the South”. “Stop that and pay a decent price,” he said.

Looking beyond returns

Both speakers argued for achievable, small steps: better wages, worker participation, and time to live apart from work. Mars stressed that giving love always brings something back. Schenderling pointed out that companies that choose fairness prove to perform more stable and sustainable in the long run.

The message of the afternoon was clear: capital can steer the world, but people determine the direction. And that is precisely why wealth requires choices that look beyond returns. Mars summed it up simply: “Wealth is not in your highest returns, but in your heart.”

Schenderling complemented that by calling for moderation and justice. It pays off. “Provide good work for all people in the chain. In practice, it shows that companies perform better socially and ecologically, and also pay off better in the long run.”