The EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) solves inequality – giving cash yet incentivizing work
Roche ’19 [Julia La; 05/03/2019; Finance reporter at Yahoo Finance; “Warren Buffett identifies the 'best way' to address income inequality,” https://www.yahoo.com/now/warren-buffett-eitc-150619498.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGmBaJeuQmZ2vrEwhuuZcXlP0PgTz5qbTrShGBIlL33Lh4G-ymCd-q4CXT_xn3oKsC0Ij3wlGqLlqSmhQ2zP54EITjT7OScMk8aBT5vNl83-B_jRDjOohAdn64wulLQuwXkrdFFZmcMwlfJLxjsgD1LZsgpBImhLyryfyBVxrqYx //The St. Mark’s School of Texas, Anish Guddati–Class of 2024]
Legendary investor Warren Buffett, the third richest person in the world, argues in a new interview that the best way to address income inequality is through the Earned Income Tax Credit.
"[I] think the Earned Income Tax Credit is the best way to put money in the pockets of people that don't fit well under the market system, but that are perfectly decent citizens," Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A, BRK-B), said in a wide-ranging interview with Yahoo Finance's editor-in-chief, Andy Serwer.
The Earned Income Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit that goes to millions of low- to moderate-income workers, particularly parents, to supplement their earnings. One of the reasons Buffett favors the EITC is that it rewards work.
"I also think you want them to have a feeling of accomplishment," he said.
The EITC, he argues, is also more effective than raising the minimum wage.
"They just need more cash. They don't need a higher wage; they need more cash in their pocket. And the government, at relatively low cost, can provide a decent living for anybody that's ... that's working 40 hours a week, and has a couple of children. And we've gone in that direction, and it's sort of bipartisan," Buffett said.
Buffett also thinks that the EITC would be better as a monthly payment than an annual one.
The bottom line is that raising the EITC can help more people feel part of the economic system, Buffett suggested.
"I think there are various things you could do, but you want them to feel part of the system, and as more and more of these golden eggs are laid,” he said, “you want them to get a little more of their share."