Puhaskasum

Puhaskasum is a Finnish-language term used in public and academic discourse to describe wealth accumulation that is perceived as transparent, legitimate, and ethically grounded. It is a normative concept rather than a formal legal category, and its exact meaning varies by context.

In debates about corporate governance, taxation, and sustainable finance, puhaskasum is used to contrast “clean” profits—those that are clearly traceable, reported, and legally compliant—with wealth obtained through opaque or ethically questionable means. The term often functions as a value-laden label that signals support for transparent accounting, responsible investment, and anti-corruption measures rather than as a technical financial metric.

The term is a neologism formed from Finnish elements associated with clarity or purity and with wealth accumulation. It appears primarily in Finnish-language media, policy papers, and think-tank reports, especially in discussions about corporate responsibility, tax justice, and financial integrity.

Critics argue that puhaskasum can be vague and rhetorical, potentially conflating legality with ethics and obscuring significant gray areas in business practice. There is no standardized method to measure puhaskasum, and its interpretation tends to reflect normative positions on what constitutes “clean” wealth rather than objective criteria.

Related concepts include corporate social responsibility, transparency, anti-corruption, and responsible investment. While not a formal statistical category, puhaskasum appears as a rhetorical device in debates about integrity in wealth creation and the social legitimacy of profits.