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About this quote

What does it mean?
Paying people not to work while taxing work creates unemployment.
In plain terms
If you reward not working and tax working, fewer people work.
What can you take from it?
Incentives shape labor choices.

Where it applies

  • tax policy
  • welfare design
  • labor markets

Putting it to work

  • check incentives
  • align rewards
  • avoid penalties

Questions to consider

  • Who pays?
  • What rewards what?

Another view

Some support is needed for those unable to work.

More from Milton Friedman

  1. What would the people who sold us goods do with the money? They'd get dollars. What would they do with the dollars? Eat them?!

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  2. Everywhere, and at all times, economic progress has meant far more to the poor than to the rich.

    Permalink to quote #45
  3. What is not forbidden in Sweden, is obligatory.

    Permalink to quote #42

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