During the 1980s and 1990s, a number of countries were ruled by political parties upholding the credo of "market fundamentalism" as their governments vigorously pushed neoliberalism.

From the standpoint of this philosophy, economic disparities between different countries and regions and income differences among individuals are only natural. It said that people and enterprises of a society that has no disparities would lose vitality and incentives to work.

Market fundamentalists believe, therefore, that disparities motivate the rich to seek greater wealth and encourage the poor to work harder to overcome their poverty.