[beaconstudios]

Exploitation isn't when somebody is forced to do something, it's when one person profits off the work of another. So in my example, the job is exploitative, yes. Having a business fail is not exploitation.

I didn't make an argument about whether it was contributing to the economy or not, but that doesn't matter - slavery contributed to the economy too, but it's also morally wrong.

It's a stripped down hypothetical on purpose, to get to the heart of the question. Non-labour material concerns are left as an exercise for the reader.

[erik_seaberg]

I am borrowing the shareholders’ big investment to amplify the value of my own work. I’m not taking any risk and I’m not paying them, instead they are paying me more than I could earn without them.

> one person profits off the work of another

Trade needs to benefit both parties.

[tomcam]

> Exploitation isn't when somebody is forced to do something, it's when one person profits off the work of another.

We live in different world. Thank you for your response.

[beaconstudios]

If by that you mean we have different understandings of the word "exploitation" then sure thing. But my definition is the dictionary one:

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/exploita...

> the act of using someone unfairly for your own advantage

But we probably just disagree on the meaning of "unfairly" within that definition.