The Study on Consumption Vouchers-from the Perspective of the Veil of Ignorance

• Main Authors: Hsiu-Ju Hsueh, 薛琇如
• Other Authors: Yuming Ho
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/28906746209825696912

碩士 === 國立高雄應用科技大學 === 商務經營研究所 === 98 === The financial tsunami struck the entire world in 2008, leading to global economic downturn and unprecedented loss in the global financial markets. Taiwan is also under the crises of global financial markets. The country’s economy declined to the extent of negative growth, and its economic growth rate hit a seven-year low, causing a decline in consumption, a surge in unemployment rates, and a severe impact on the export sector. The government launched a variety of economic stimulus packages to revive the economy and restore economic growth as quickly as possible. Moreover, consumption vouchers were issued to every citizen for the first time, with the aim of stimulating the economy, enhancing economic development and increasing the real economic growth rate by 0.66% through the multiplier effect. The government establishes relevant policies with maximization of citizens’ benefits in mind. The appropriateness of these policies greatly affects every citizen, as the influence of government budgets and public expenditure not only reaches the current generation but also possibly extends to next generation. Hence, the responsibility borne by the government is enormous, and cautious consideration and evaluation are necessary when establishing government policies. On the basis of humanism, this study begins with a view of obligations derived from the consensus on equal concern and respect for others behind the veil of ignorance, and explores the consumption voucher policy through the method of reflective equilibrium analysis. Found from this study, we found the negative influence generated by consumption vouchers is likely to result in inflation and price rises or failure to reduce prices to the desired or appropriate levels. The subsequent results include a drop in substantial purchasing power and a waste of limited social resources due to inefficient deployment and utilization. Living behind the veil of ignorance, we are completely unaware of all the information about ourselves; however, we are aware of all of the general concepts and understand how economic function. Every person is likely to become the minority or disadvantaged; an equal opportunity and environment for liberal development are thus required, in order to prevent ourselves from falling into a more unfavorable position and ensure equal concern and respect as deserved by every human being. People with rationality would disagree with the decision to issue consumption vouchers because the issuance of such vouchers fails to conform to the agreement that people behind the veil of ignorance are likely to reach.