Letters: The Matthews' Effect.

Dear friend,

Today, I bring to you a concept that I don’t always talk about, and funnily enough, it’s not even talked about that much by people, or am I the one who isn’t paying much thought to it?

The last time I heard of it was the first time I heard of it.

It’s a concept that affects everyone, rich or poor; it’s an economic concept, though…

Well, I last spoke of it in 2021 to my close classmates then…

Gotten from a biblical passage, a parable Jesus told just before his persecution, suffering, and death. Here it:

“For every person who has something, even more will be given, and to him who has nothing, even the little he has will be taken away from him.” 

Yeah, you might have guessed right; it’s the parable of the three servants.

Matthew 25 vs 29.

You can read the entire parable to understand what Jesus meant by it, but that particular verse, like many Bible verses, has been turned into an economic theory.

It’s called THE MATTHEWS’ EFFECT.

This explains why the rich keep getting richer while the poor, by virtue of being poor, are kept in poverty, and even the little money they have keeps entering the pockets of the rich, just like the servant with one talent who lost it to the one who multiplied his five talents to ten.

The Matthew effect was first described and coined by Robert K. Merton in 1968, drawing on a biblical reference.

It explains that inequality exists and that, by virtue of already being privileged to have, those who have will keep multiplying what they have, while those who lack anything will struggle to maintain the little they have and still struggle to even add to it.

Now, let’s be pragmatic. Don’t you see this everywhere?

A poor man needs money, but to earn more, he needs to increase his skills, education, etc… What does he need to do that? MONEY! The same money he lacks… hmmm…

Are you connecting the dots? Or do you want another explanation? I’d give one again.

The son of a rich and connected man wants to be a footballer; his father is a top gun in the political sphere, so he tends to excel, as he can get the best clubs that attract the top players and every other thing he needs.

More?

• The child of a teacher performing better than others academically…

• A club member getting help from the club easily…

Now, sit up, think, and ask yourself why banks don’t loan money to poor people but will beg wealthy people who don’t obviously need the money to come take loans? 

They are rich and might not need the loan; someone somewhere with a 'big dream' needs it, but there’s over 95% probability that the bank will never give that loan to the poor man… why?

The Matthews’ effect applies everywhere. Understanding its existence will help you if the LOTTERY OF BIRTH didn’t favor you.

Understanding and acknowledging its existence will help you see why you often feel frustrated when you aren’t acing your goals. It will help you become more intentional with relationships.

It will help you see the world clearly and stop blaming circumstances. Whether you like it or not if you don’t have the money or the relationship, there are certain jobs you can’t get, certain countries you can’t japa to, certain roles you can’t assume unless you understand the game, and the first step in understanding the game is by understanding that inequality exists and figuring out where in that inequality spectrum you fall into which will allow you to know where to start building from.

You’d see that while you are busy reprogramming yourself and finding yourself, others are already seeing results… and you won't be frustrated.

Calm down, but don’t be complacent and mediocre.

You’d take life gradually and intentionally. The Matthews’ effect.

In case you haven’t gotten it by now, 'turn your disadvantage into an advantage.'

You are disadvantaged because of your social class; there are many problems to solve. Be ruthless; identify them and solve them.

Rooting for you, and I hope you too are rooting for me!

In Igbo, Udo.

Best Regards,

Joseph Chisom Ofonagoro.

Till I write next, Goodbye!