Both sides differ on the degree. However, the facts are clear, if someone loses welfare benefits when they go to work, it will lower the net value of earning that paycheck. Everyone knows economics in their own lives and reacts to incentives and disincentives. Some people claim that welfare results in a better financial standard of life compared to a low wage job. It is also important to realize that the number of hours of work or leisure is also important to consider. The pride of earning money has value compared to the demoralizing effect of dependency
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If welfare offers 90% of what a paycheck could give, one would have to ask if putting in 40 long hours at an unpleasant job is worth the extra 10%. Whatever the math is in a poor person’s life, this is a major factor that creates disincentives to some to enter the labor force.
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