title: Governmental population incentives: ethical issues at stake.
abstract: Governmental incentives to influence population-related decisions are examined in terms of the ethical issues at stake. A typology of incentive schemes is presented, and ethical implications of various incentives are discussed. It is argued that, in a just scheme, a progressive, negative incentive or fee, calculated as a surtax on a modified income tax or an equivalent standard, would distribute burdens equally. A set of guidelines for ethical evaluation of incentive schemes is proposed.
mesh_terms: D003268:Contraception Behavior; D030881:Disclosure; D028663:Ethical Theory; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005251:Fees, Medical; D006076:Government; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011155:Population Control; D012935:Social Justice; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States