Equal Pay for All: An Idea Whose Time Has Not, and Will Not, Come

In Debating Equal Pay for All: Economy, Practicability and Ethics. Cham, Switzerland: pp. 21-35 (2021)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

The proposal on offer is a radical form of egalitarianism. Under it, each citizen receives the same income, regardless of profession or indeed whether he or she works or not. This proposal is bad for two reasons. First, it is inefficient. It would eliminate nearly all incentive to work, thereby shrinking national income and leaving all citizens poorly off (albeit equally poorly off). I illustrate this inefficiency via an indifference curve analysis. Second, the proposal would be regarded as unjust by almost everyone. The empirical work on justice makes this plain. Equal pay for equal work is desirable; equal pay no matter what is something else entirely. It is an idea not likely to find adherents.

Author's Profile

Thomas Mulligan
Georgetown University

Analytics

Added to PP
2021-01-09

Downloads
427 (#36,006)

6 months
80 (#46,951)

Historical graph of downloads since first upload
This graph includes both downloads from PhilArchive and clicks on external links on PhilPapers.
How can I increase my downloads?