Wages, profits, and other sources of income are determined, for the most part, by how successfully the participants in an economy contribute to the welfare of consumers. Clearly not all activities undertaken in markets are civil. Many, though legal, are decidedly unsavory. Violation of law and breaches of trust do undermine the efficiency of markets.
However, considering that forces restraining the economy, such as excessive employment and debt, are still persistently at work, momentum for a self-sustaining recovery will be subdued for some time. In addition, uncertainty regarding external conditions which supported the recent economic recovery is rising somewhat amid a fall in stock prices in the United States and worldwide as well as depreciation of the U.S. dollar.