But if you acknowledge that many people are motivated to work chiefly because money is offered in exchange, then changing cultural norms is only part of the solution. Creating incentives for work, and not just penalty for sloth, is equally important. When this mother applies for these welfare benefits, she is asked to check a box which affirms that she is looking for work. In my view, Magnet's policy recommendations make a similar error. He wants to eliminate income support for unemployed adults and to target benefits only to children.
Adults get no benefits.
Only children get benefits. Instead of tying benefits to having children, he suggested what he called a negative income tax, or income support program, targeted to adults. With the exception of vouchers for child day care and education, these benefits would not increase if a woman had children. This tax credit would be refundable in the sense that those without sufficient income to benefit fully from tax credits would get vouchers to make up the difference. If she took a job, the voucher amount she received would only decrease gradually as her income increased.