Is Investing Inherently Right-Wing?
Left Vs Right Vs Money
This article was spurred by a comment from a reader who remarked to us that our writing’s right-wing. To us, we hope to be matter-of-fact, with a crucial awareness of history with regards to any opinions and investment considerations, and certainly more Centrist than Right, but perhaps that’s the world we live in now, there’s a shift whereby what used to be centre is now considered right. Politics plays a part in people’s money but is investing itself right-wing?
Imagine London in the summer of 1858: the Thames reeking so badly that Parliament considered fleeing to Oxford amid dousing thier curtains with lime chloride to mask the smell. Dubbed “The Great Stink,” it forced a rethink of the city’s sewers—and a hefty engineering fix. Today, we’re not dodging river fumes, but a different question lingers: Is investing inherently right-wing? Let’s wade into the politics of wealth-building and see what holds water.
Investing as a Conservative Staple
At first glance, investing feels like it belongs in the right-wing camp. Conservatives—think free-market fans or your uncle who loves tax cuts—often champion the idea that anyone can build a fortune with a bit of grit and a brokerage account. The numbers hint at it, too: a 2023 Gallup poll found 65% of Republicans owned stocks, compared to 48% of Democrats. From Wall Street traders to crypto enthusiasts posting on X, the loudest voices in finance often lean toward individualism and profit—a classic Tory tune.
It’s easy to see why. The Thatcher era, with its push to privatise industries like water in ’89, mirrored this ethos: let markets rule, and reward those who play the game. Investing, in this light, looks like a conservative hallmark—personal responsibility meets cold, hard cash.
The Left-Wing Take: Investing with a Conscience
But step across the aisle, and the story shifts. Progressives don’t hate investing—they just want it to serve a purpose beyond profit. Look at ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) funds, which ballooned to $35 trillion by 2024, per Bloomberg. Younger folks, skeptical of unchecked capitalism (62% of under-30s, says Pew’s 2024 survey), are pouring money into solar stocks or ethical ETFs. It’s wealth-building, sure, but with a green twist—less about greed, more about good.
The left’s critique isn’t of investing itself, but of who’s winning. With the top 1% holding nearly 30% of U.S. wealth (Federal Reserve data), they’d argue it’s the system, not the tool, that’s off-kilter. Think of 19th-century co-operative banks—early left-wing experiments in putting money to work for the many, not the few. It’s a different flavour, but it’s still investing.
Are the Right Better with Cash?
Here’s where it gets juicy: Does the right actually have more money to invest—or manage it better?
Evidence suggests a tilt. A 2014 study by Powdthavee and Oswald found UK lottery winners—suddenly flush—shifted right politically, hinting wealth nudges people toward conservative views. In the U.S., Pew’s 2017 data shows “Core Conservatives” (82%) outpace “Solid Liberals” (79%) in owning credit cards, and 76% vs. 71% invest in stocks.
The right, it seems, often has deeper pockets—or at least more access to the tools.
Savings tell a similar tale. A 2021 YouGov survey pegged UK Conservative voters as more likely to save regularly (58%) than Labour supporters (49%). Why? Maybe it’s ideology—right-wingers prize personal responsibility, so socking away cash fits. The left, focused on redistribution, might lean less on personal hoards. Yet, it’s not black-and-white. Left-leaning “Solid Liberals” often earn more (Pew again), especially in urban hubs, but channel it into collective goals—think public transit or education—over private nest eggs.
Who’s “better” with money? Tough call. The right might save and invest more individually, but studies—like a 2014 New Zealand paper—show left-leaners score higher on altruism, potentially giving more away. The right’s edge could be a practical habit; the left’s, a broader intent. Data’s murky, but the split’s real.
So, is investing inherently right-wing? Not quite—it’s more like a blank slate. Back in 1858, Joseph Bazalgette didn’t care if his sewer pipes were Tory or Whig; he just wanted the stink gone. Investing’s the same: a mechanism, not a manifesto. A conservative might buy oil stocks for a quick buck; a progressive might fund a wind farm for the planet. The act’s neutral—it’s the intent that gets political.
History backs this up. Bitcoin’s a darling of both right-wing libertarians and anti-establishment leftists—same coin, different dreams. Even the UK’s water privatisation in ’89, sold for £7.6 billion with a £1.5 billion “green dowry,” wasn’t about ideology—it was a practical trade, however messy the fallout. Investing’s politics depend on who’s holding the reins.
This debate isn’t just chatter—it shapes how we see wealth. If investing stays tagged as “right-wing,” it risks alienating half the crowd, especially younger folks who want financial security but distrust the system. Meanwhile, the right’s profit-first mindset can blind it to flops like 2008’s crash or meme-stock busts. Both could learn a trick: the left, to embrace practical wealth-building; the right, to temper the chase for more.
Your Money, Your Move
Is investing inherently right-wing? Nope—it’s human, as basic as needing clean water. It’s about betting on tomorrow, whether for profit, purpose, or both. The stereotype of the suited capitalist is as outdated as lime-soaked curtains. In 2025, with markets more open than ever, the question isn’t if investing picks a side—it’s how you’ll steer it.
What’s your angle? Does your portfolio lean left, right, or somewhere muddier? Drop a note below—we’d love to hear.