Inequality has serious negative effects across the wider economy – so serious, the United Nations has identified reducing inequality as one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Taxing citizens, particularly wealthier citizens, and redistributing income to the poor, is a popular governmental approach to redressing inequality. However, taxes remain unpopular with many people, who don’t trust how their governments spend money. But there may be changes in taxation that achieve important social outcomes, with a degree of personal control, that overcomes the lack of trust in government.
A new system of giving
In the journal Public Money and Management, Monash Sustainable Development Institute Professor, Dave Griggs and BehaviourWorks Director, Liam Smith, proposed a new system of giving, called ‘Giving for Good’.
Under this system, anyone on a high annual income of, say US$200,000 or more, would be required to donate an additional 2% to the charity, community or tax deductable organisation of their choice.
As the income rises, so does the donation amount (still 2%). By choosing where the donation goes, the wealthy have the final say on which social outcome they regard as most important (not the government).
Most compelling in this idea is that being altruistic (giving to charity) can make people happy, healthy, thankful and more socially connected.
Thinking about different charitable options and then choosing one may also change how givers feel about themselves. Self-perception theory suggests that our identity is shaped at least in part, by our actions.
If we do good, maybe we are good
‘Giving for Good’ may be a ‘win-win’; the more you have, the more you give, the more you do for society and the higher that society holds you in its esteem.
To quote Liam, “It benefits those doing the giving and those receiving the donations and changes how we see the richest ‘one percenters’.”
Read the full paper here.
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