In an interview with A Fondo, businessman and former mayor of Cali, Maurice Armitage, argues that reducing inequality is consistent with business profitability. In his experience, "valuing human beings" and "sharing profits" creates more committed and competitive teams, which translates into better results for companies.
Armitage describes practices applied in his companies—such as Siderúrgica de Occidente (SIDOC) and Cementos San Marcos—aimed at sharing a portion of profits with workers and raising wages above the legal minimum when productivity allows. He asserts that this strategy allowed him to compete with larger firms not "with money or technology," but with motivated and stable human capital.
The Colombian case presented by the entrepreneur directly links less inequality with a larger domestic market and less conflict. He argues that when the purchasing power of those who work increases, the demand for durable goods and formal services (commerce, housing, financial services) grows, and costs associated with instability decrease. In his view, "those of us who have money" also benefit from safer and more predictable cities, because "if we don't change our attitude, this country will not be viable."
Armitage connects his proposal with an idea he summarizes as the coexistence of "productive capitalism with distributive socialism": producing more and better, but sharing part of the progress with those who make it possible. He presents this position as a practical strategy for Colombian companies seeking sustained profitability in contexts of high inequality.
Context and verification: Public sources confirm his career as founder of SIDOC, partner of Cementos San Marcos, and former mayor of Cali (2016–2019). They also record his participation as a victim in the peace talks and his advocacy of profit-sharing schemes as a mechanism for cohesion and productivity.
Sources cited:
Full interview on A Fondo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2xBjkrGS1s
Maurice Armitage's profile (biography and positions). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Armitage
Official website of Cementos San Marcos. https://cementosanmarcos.com/
Notes and public profile on profit sharing and business history. https://thedialogue.org/expert/maurice-armitage/