Comments on: IEA Report: The War between the State and the Family http://austrolabe.com/2007/03/21/iea-report-the-war-between-the-state-and-the-family/ Sat, 07 Jan 2012 13:12:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Amir http://austrolabe.com/2007/03/21/iea-report-the-war-between-the-state-and-the-family/comment-page-1/#comment-14714 Amir Thu, 22 Mar 2007 01:44:02 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2007/03/21/iea-report-the-war-between-the-state-and-the-family/#comment-14714 The distinction is that stealing is illegal, but receiving the dole and other benefits is legal. The people who make decisions to maximise their financial reward (within the parameters that are themselves set by the welfare authorities) are only acting in their rational self-interest. What do you tell a man with no skills who can earn, for the sake of argument, $20k working in some menial job or, also for the sake of argument, $80k by simply producing kids and 'working the system' to do? There is a very strong incentive for people to take the easier and more lucrative option, and that is what I meant when I said that if this is a problem, it is only because the system allows it. The distinction is that stealing is illegal, but receiving the dole and other benefits is legal. The people who make decisions to maximise their financial reward (within the parameters that are themselves set by the welfare authorities) are only acting in their rational self-interest. What do you tell a man with no skills who can earn, for the sake of argument, $20k working in some menial job or, also for the sake of argument, $80k by simply producing kids and ‘working the system’ to do? There is a very strong incentive for people to take the easier and more lucrative option, and that is what I meant when I said that if this is a problem, it is only because the system allows it.

]]> By: Basboosa http://austrolabe.com/2007/03/21/iea-report-the-war-between-the-state-and-the-family/comment-page-1/#comment-14713 Basboosa Thu, 22 Mar 2007 01:38:16 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2007/03/21/iea-report-the-war-between-the-state-and-the-family/#comment-14713 Amir - Saying that its not the fault of people who take advantage of these schemes but the fault of the schemes themselves; is like saying that its not the fault of someone who took money that's just sitting on a table, its the fault of the person who left it there so carelessly. Bottomline is, the responsibility is shared. Amir -

Saying that its not the fault of people who take advantage of these schemes but the fault of the schemes themselves; is like saying that its not the fault of someone who took money that’s just sitting on a table, its the fault of the person who left it there so carelessly.

Bottomline is, the responsibility is shared.

]]> By: Amir http://austrolabe.com/2007/03/21/iea-report-the-war-between-the-state-and-the-family/comment-page-1/#comment-14672 Amir Wed, 21 Mar 2007 23:43:16 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2007/03/21/iea-report-the-war-between-the-state-and-the-family/#comment-14672 Yes and that is exactly what one would expect a rational person to do; to operate in their own self-interests. If a person can earn more from benefits than they have the capability of earning in the workforce, then it's not surprising many will do it. It's really not the fault of the people who take advantage of these schemes, it's ultimately the fault of the schemes themselves. Yes and that is exactly what one would expect a rational person to do; to operate in their own self-interests. If a person can earn more from benefits than they have the capability of earning in the workforce, then it’s not surprising many will do it. It’s really not the fault of the people who take advantage of these schemes, it’s ultimately the fault of the schemes themselves.

]]> By: Muhammad http://austrolabe.com/2007/03/21/iea-report-the-war-between-the-state-and-the-family/comment-page-1/#comment-14666 Muhammad Wed, 21 Mar 2007 22:42:41 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2007/03/21/iea-report-the-war-between-the-state-and-the-family/#comment-14666 The same thing is happening in Australia. If you get married you are much better off not declaring it (registering it) and sending your wife to Centrelink to claim a single parent's pension and housing commission apartment when she has the first kid. The same thing is happening in Australia. If you get married you are much better off not declaring it (registering it) and sending your wife to Centrelink to claim a single parent’s pension and housing commission apartment when she has the first kid.

]]> By: Amir http://austrolabe.com/2007/03/21/iea-report-the-war-between-the-state-and-the-family/comment-page-1/#comment-14594 Amir Wed, 21 Mar 2007 16:02:26 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2007/03/21/iea-report-the-war-between-the-state-and-the-family/#comment-14594 Although it is interesting and incentives do, of course, matter, it is perhaps an over-simplification to assume monetary considerations are the <em>primary</em> motivation here. That is, that a couple would decide not to marry or would separate simply because they have performed a mathematical calculation and come to the conclusion they might net an extra 2,000 or so if they do so. I suspect there are other issues involved, such as social acceptance of single parent families, divorce and dependence on social security, which also play a role. Although it is interesting and incentives do, of course, matter, it is perhaps an over-simplification to assume monetary considerations are the primary motivation here. That is, that a couple would decide not to marry or would separate simply because they have performed a mathematical calculation and come to the conclusion they might net an extra 2,000 or so if they do so. I suspect there are other issues involved, such as social acceptance of single parent families, divorce and dependence on social security, which also play a role.

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