Reconsidering the reciprocity objection to unconditional basic income

Andrew Lister
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Andrew Lister: Queen’s University, Canada

Politics, Philosophy & Economics, 2020, vol. 19, issue 3, 209-228

Abstract: This article reconsiders the reciprocity objection to unconditional basic income based on the idea that reciprocity is not only a duty but a limiting condition on other duties. If the objection were that unconditionality invites people to neglect contributory obligations arising from a duty of reciprocity, people could ask to opt out of eligibility for the benefit so as to avoid liability to contribution. While market failure provides a reason for mandatory participation in social insurance, it will not justify the generous (if conditional) income support egalitarians favour. To sustain the objection, we need to think of reciprocity a limit on duties of assistance and fair-sharing. In this form, the objection resists the inherited assets response, which holds that we can’t have a duty reciprocate benefits we receive from nature or from previous generations.

Keywords: reciprocity; basic income; property; public goods; fair play; inheritance; contribution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:pophec:v:19:y:2020:i:3:p:209-228

DOI: 10.1177/1470594X20927901

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