A bold case for a living wage with child endowment
This concise work argues for a Family Basic Income that combines a solid wage with a per-child endowment, aimed at reducing poverty and enhancing family life. It lays out the economic logic and policy steps behind using a wage plus child endowment to improve living standards.
Drawing on real-world examples and constitutional questions, the book explains how a national approach can avoid inter‑state competition and deliver support to families through a tax on employers and a revenue‑funded endowment for children. It contrasts the current wage system with a unified framework that could lower overall costs to industry and, by extension, to consumers.
The text also situates the proposal in a broader context, noting its reception among labor groups, religious bodies, and international discussions on motherhood, wages, and social welfare. It emphasizes practical implementation over theory and makes the case for passing reforms through the Commonwealth.
- How a Family Basic Income combines a living wage with child endowment
- Why a single national approach may reduce inter‑state price competition
- Cost comparisons between the current wage system and the proposed plan
- The constitutional and policy considerations underlying a basic wage reform
Ideal for readers of economic reform, social policy, and Australian history who want clear, practical arguments for wage justice and family support.