1. That billion dollar question: Are you really rich?
- Author
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Loong, Pauline and Peck, Andrew
- Subjects
WEALTH ,RICH people - Abstract
This article deals with ways of defining wealth. Bankers have a practical way of defining wealth. If you have U.S.$1 million or more in investible assets, you qualify as what is described as a high net worth individual. And if you have liquid financial assets averaging more than U.S.$30 million, you become an ultra high net worth individual. In Asia, wealth tends to be measured in aggregate family terms. Relationship managers at private banks look at high net worth families, rather than just individuals. Wealth is a moving goalpost. To qualify for the Forbes 400 rich list in 1966, you had to cross the U.S.$415 million threshold. Raising the wealth bar has not resulted in fewer people qualifying. In fact, the number of rich people in the world is growing, especially in Asia. Canadian research organization The Fraser Institute draws a correlation between prosperity and geography in its 'Economic Freedom of the World: Annual Report 2003.' The survey defines the fundamental components of an economically free environment as the ability to execute personal choice and voluntary exchange, freedom to compete and adequate protection of people and property. Of the more than 120 nations surveyed, Hong Kong and Singapore, two of Asia's wealthiest nations, hold the top two positions respectively. According to the report, both countries can support a large wealthy elite and a substantial super-wealthy circle.
- Published
- 2004