Means testing versus basic income: The (lack of) political support for a universal allowance

被引：6

作者：

Cremer, Helmuth ^{[1
]}

Roeder, Kerstin ^{[2
]}

机构：

[1] Toulouse Sch Econ, F-31015 Toulouse, France

[2] Univ Augsburg, D-86159 Augsburg, Germany

来源：

ECONOMICS LETTERS | 2015年 / 136卷

关键词：

Basic income; Means testing; Political support;

D O I：

10.1016/j.econlet.2015.09.003

中图分类号：

F [经济];

学科分类号：

02 ;

摘要：

This paper studies the political economy of a basic income (BI) versus a means tested welfare scheme. We show in a very simple setting that if society votes on the type of system, its generosity as well as the "severity" of means testing (if any), a BI system could only emerge in the political equilibrium under very strong and empirically implausible conditions. Instead, the political process leads to a means tested system. The necessity to draw political support does affect the design of the system, but it only implies that means testing becomes less severe so that benefits are extended also to the middle classes. However, a fully universal system is rejected by a majority. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

引用

页码：81 / 84

页数：4

共 9 条

[1]

Atkinson A., 1996, Public economics in action: The basic income/Flat tax proposal

[2] MEANS TESTING VERSUS UNIVERSAL PROVISION IN POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMS [J].