Culture of entitlement
Encyclopedia
Culture of entitlement is a concept meant to encapsulate the social or economic beliefs that a government, usually through entitlement programs, should provide access to goods or services such as employment opportunities or health care at no additional cost (or at discount) to its tax payers. Though the goods or services desired may differ from group to group, the society under this belief will generally feel "entitled" to a private industry that they might not normally have access to (or have limited access to), through economic disadvantages or otherwise.
As an expression it is often used to criticize perceived abuses or expansion of entitlement programs as a result of the general expectation of government intervention in and attempts to protect access to certain services. Critics of a culture of entitlement often believe that the free market in general, or the rewards of personal responsibility, is the most responsible approach to correcting these inequities. The connotation of the phrase often implies that the recipients of government entitlements are individuals that do not deserve to receive such benefits or entitlements.
In the pejorative sense it is meant to imply it is most applicable not to social security and medicare-- which are insurance programs paid for by the users-- but to the "entitlement" of those who are the least needy.
The concept may be contrasted with a "culture of merit
", where individuals are rewarded due to ability or achievement (cf. meritocracy
). Advocates of a culture of merit state that the free market
and individual responsibility for themselves and their community provide a culture of ownership whereby individuals take almost complete responsibility of themselves, their family, and their community. In a culture of ownership, it is believed that there is a stronger relationship between cause and effect, between risk and reward, and between investment and return on investment
. (See Market Forces
)
As an expression it is often used to criticize perceived abuses or expansion of entitlement programs as a result of the general expectation of government intervention in and attempts to protect access to certain services. Critics of a culture of entitlement often believe that the free market in general, or the rewards of personal responsibility, is the most responsible approach to correcting these inequities. The connotation of the phrase often implies that the recipients of government entitlements are individuals that do not deserve to receive such benefits or entitlements.
In the pejorative sense it is meant to imply it is most applicable not to social security and medicare-- which are insurance programs paid for by the users-- but to the "entitlement" of those who are the least needy.
The concept may be contrasted with a "culture of merit
Meritocracy
Meritocracy, in the first, most administrative sense, is a system of government or other administration wherein appointments and responsibilities are objectively assigned to individuals based upon their "merits", namely intelligence, credentials, and education, determined through evaluations or...
", where individuals are rewarded due to ability or achievement (cf. meritocracy
Meritocracy
Meritocracy, in the first, most administrative sense, is a system of government or other administration wherein appointments and responsibilities are objectively assigned to individuals based upon their "merits", namely intelligence, credentials, and education, determined through evaluations or...
). Advocates of a culture of merit state that the free market
Free market
A free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...
and individual responsibility for themselves and their community provide a culture of ownership whereby individuals take almost complete responsibility of themselves, their family, and their community. In a culture of ownership, it is believed that there is a stronger relationship between cause and effect, between risk and reward, and between investment and return on investment
Return on investment
Return on investment is one way of considering profits in relation to capital invested. Return on assets , return on net assets , return on capital and return on invested capital are similar measures with variations on how “investment” is defined.Marketing not only influences net profits but also...
. (See Market Forces
Market Forces
Market Forces is a science fiction novel by Richard Morgan, first published in 2004.Set in 2049 in the wake of a global economic downturn called the Domino Recessions, it follows up-and-coming executive Chris as he plunges into the profitable field of Conflict Investment...
)
See also
- Criticisms of welfareCriticisms of welfareThe notion, and the extent of, the modern welfare state has been criticised on both economic and social grounds, from both the Left and the Right of the political spectrum.- Libertarian & Conservative criticisms :...
- Entitlement TheoryEntitlement TheoryEntitlement theory is a theory of distributive justice and private property created by Robert Nozick in his book Anarchy, State, and Utopia...
- NarcissismNarcissismNarcissism is a term with a wide range of meanings, depending on whether it is used to describe a central concept of psychoanalytic theory, a mental illness, a social or cultural problem, or simply a personality trait...
- Social welfare provision
- Welfare (financial aid)
- Welfare stateWelfare stateA welfare state is a "concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those...
External links
- Changing a Culture of Entitlement into a Culture of Merit By Dave Anderson