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An Economist's Vision

by Steven Shafarman

Appearing in the New York Times, March 19, 2002

To the Editor:

James Tobin's moderate, thoughtful approach to economic policy is sensibly praised, and mourned, in Paul Krugman's column of March 12, which also discussed Dr. Tobin's theoretical differences with Milton Friedman. On one issue, however, the two Nobel laureates agreed: both called for cash payments to the very poor.

Though the idea of guaranteed income or a negative income tax is mostly forgotten in the United States, Dr. Tobin reaffirmed his support in an interview last year with Senator Eduardo Matarazzo Suplicy of Brazil, who is working to enact it in his country. Coincidentally, Senator Suplicy was in New York on March 8 and 9 when more than 80 economists, other academics and political activists founded the U.S. Basic Income Guarantee Network.

STEVEN SHAFARMAN
Executive Director
Citizen Policies Institute
Washington, March 12, 2002

To read the op-ed by Paul Krugman: http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/12/opinion/12KRUG.html

To read the New York Times' obituary of James Tobin: http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/13/obituaries/13TOBI.html

To read Senator Suplicy's 2001 interview with Dr. Tobin: (click on Newsletters, click on No. 12 October-November 2001, scroll down)
http://www.usbig.net