Name one person around the whole globe who does not like to earn a guaranteed income. But this does not necessarily mean that it will also bring about the level of satisfaction that a person craves for. It is the level of satisfaction that the people want to achieve by the income they are earning. Therefore, it is very important to understand and answer the simple question of whether guaranteed annual income works. People are happy about the incentive being given by the government in the form of guaranteed annual income. But this incentive comes with a cost that is to be bear by the people themselves. Therefore, people must understand the trade-offs they are making as a result of signing up for this guaranteed annual income.
This program was a success in the start as the government was able to eliminate poverty from different regions of the country. But over the years people have been questioning the taxation regarding guaranteed annual income. But this became a political issue rather than a social issue because of the impact that it was leaving on society. The people were more reliant on the political party that was supported by this income status. Whereas the political party was against it in the form of the taxation being imposed on the people, citizens started turning against them. This was a difficult point to understand which notion was more attractive to the people.
The major question that arises from guaranteeing a minimum annual income was that of people being incentivized for work. Keep yourself in the scenario and understand the situation that is going to be explained in the following lines. Imagine a scenario in which you are guaranteed a minimum annual income even if you are not doing any work. Now be true to yourself and answer the question, whether you would like to work or not. If you know that you are going to get a minimum income or possible credit by the end of the year, your incentive to work will be diminished. This was the main reason that the people in the political circles were concerned about the development of the country.
The drastic impacts of this program on the economy as far more down their true value it is generating for the people. This was soon realized by the government as it sored their reserves which would otherwise be used for development projects. This was all happening when this program was in its infancy stage and the economists were trying a way out of it. Some believe that this program could be used in today’s scenario as well where the income gaps are increasing.
The concept of clawback rates was introduced to ensure that the people showed no interest in not working at all. Only a handful amount of people was not working to their maximum because of their family engagements. Many of them had small children that they had to take care of and could not work to their maximum. The intangible benefits that were reaped from this program were circling the increase in the education of the children. With people trying to earn more, they were trying their level best to provide the best education for their children.
But this does not mean that the debate is going to end soon, and this topic will be discussed on every forum. People are more concerned about the economic impact that it is going to leave on future generations. If a whole generation decided not to work and rely completely on this program, where the government will go from there. This question is being asked often by many people who have a little understanding of the entire program being run by the government.
The pandemic has hit our economic system as a whole very hard. Millions of workers have lost their jobs or their hours have been cut, the self-employed have lost their contracts and students will not have jobs this summer. This pandemic has brought to the fore the financial vulnerability faced by citizens in the context of a crisis. This is why more and more voices are being raised to demand a guaranteed basic income or possible credit as a means to prevent citizens from sliding into poverty during such a crisis.
Economists believe that a guaranteed annual income can be one of the solutions for the financial security of individuals and families throughout the year and not just in times of crisis. As most of the world’s economies are struggling to recover from the great economic and financial crisis, many economic and social ideas are emerging that can promote a better world. Among these is the establishment of a guaranteed annual income.
With the coronavirus still impacting the economy of the United States, the question is whether this program is feasible or not. The economy is soaring, and the people are still unable to grab onto their older jobs. This means that the demand for this program is going to be on the rise and the people will be showing interest and not working at all. It is for the government to decide whether to go for this guaranteed income as it will soar the economy further. The debate around this program will circle in many political gatherings who are going to decide for the future of the people. It has its benefits and its demerits that need to be identified before making any decision about making income guaranteed.
The government must listen to the argument of the opponents as well before reaching any decision or making a policy about the guaranteed annual income. Where many believe that it would help the neediest it can also make them less inclined to work or get a job.