A Nation of Hustlers?

by Leigh Graham · 2009-08-03 06:00:00 UTC
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(Photo of "Hunger Amidst Plenty" by Kamal H.)

I have to ask: why do so many of our public policies assume the worst of human nature?  Check this out from a depressing NYT piece on how unemployment benefits are going to run out by year's end for a frightening # of unemployed Americans:

Traditionally, many economists have been leery of prolonged unemployment benefits because they can reduce the incentive to seek work. But that should not be a concern now because jobs remain so scarce, said Lawrence Katz, a labor economist at Harvard.

For every job that becomes available, about six people are looking, Dr. Katz said. “Unemployment insurance gives income to families who are really suffering and can’t find work even if they are hustling to look,” he said.

Look, $300 a week in unemployment benefits is nothing to sneer at, but honestly, is it really a negative incentive?  It's slightly more generous than working full-time for a week at minimum wage, and it's about half of what the median hourly wage pays weekly in the US.

Why do we assume that by offering any shred of a safety net we're creating a nation of loafers, hustlers, thieves, layabouts, and their rapaciously needy offspring?

Seriously - what are the roots of these very disturbing assumptions?  I don't get it.

Leigh Graham
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