> In your hypothetical scenario, wouldn't the business owner just invest some of that profit into growing the business, thereby increasing productivity? Sure,

> In your hypothetical scenario, wouldn't the business owner just invest some of that profit into growing the business, thereby increasing productivity? Sure, but imagine the alternative where the slaves are paid workers instead: then the same money that you use to invest into your business in slave scenario is instead spent by your workers on other businesses, which then use it to produce other things or invest in their businesses. Again, slavery, instead of increasing total wealth, just redistributes it in favor of slaveholders.