Universal inheritance or basic inheritance is a proposal for all citizens, upon reaching a certain age, to receive an economic endowment from the State.[1][2]
From heterodox economic perspectives, inheritance has been criticized both from a historical standpoint, as property and inequality in its distribution couldn't be understood without the original accumulation of capital; and from an ethical and justice standpoint, as no human being would have the right to greater ownership over Earth's wealth solely by the circumstance of being born into one family or another.[3][4]
In this manner, universal inheritance has been proposed as a way to offset wealth distribution inequality, funded through progressive taxes.[5][6]
The first proposal for universal inheritance was made by Thomas Paine in 1795,[7] although similar measures have been proposed in different countries and historical moments since then.[5][8]
Among the criticisms of this measure is the fact that it's proposed as an inheritance for all citizens, regardless of their economic status.[9] Additionally, it could lead to a reduction in the effort of young individuals to educate themselves and contribute through their work to the well-being of the entire society.[10]
See also
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References
edit- ^ "The Campaign for Universal Inheritance".
- ^ "España 2050. Fundamentos y propuestas para una Estrategia Nacional de Largo Plazo" (PDF). Gobierno de España (in Spanish). 2021.
- ^ Marx, Karl (1867). Das Kapital.
- ^ Piketty, Thomas (2013). Capital in the Twenty-First Century.
- ^ a b "Piketty propone un sistema de "herencia" universal pagado por los multimillonarios" (in Spanish). Expansión. 30 November 2019.
- ^ Torres López, Juan (5 May 2023). "Herencia universal: una propuesta que enreda y no soluciona mucho" (in Spanish). Público.
- ^ "¿Es factible la herencia universal de 20.000 euros a quienes cumplan 18 años que propone Yolanda Díaz?" (in Spanish). On Economia. 4 July 2023.
- ^ Fantini, Ellen (2022-12-09). "Germany Considers €20,000 Basic Inheritance". europeanconservative.com.
- ^ Pérez, Patricia (4 July 2023). "Herencia universal para jóvenes: así es la polémica medida que plantea Yolanda Díaz" (in Spanish). El Comercio.
- ^ Soriano, Domingo (6 May 2023). "¿Tiene algún sentido regalar 20.000 euros a los 18 años? Las claves de la propuesta más peculiar de Yolanda Díaz" (in Spanish). Libre Mercado.