Human Development and Muslim Countries: Need fulfillment versus basic universal income from Islamic perspective*

Hasan, Zubair (2020): Human Development and Muslim Countries: Need fulfillment versus basic universal income from Islamic perspective*. Published in: Turkish Journal of Islamic Economics (TUJISE) , Vol. 7, No. 2 : pp. 1-16.

Abstract

Human beings are the most important source of economic progress as well as end users of its fruits. The performance of both the sectors – public and private – is a function of workers’ efficiency – moral and professional. The moral dimension is internal to human beings. It is difficult to measure and separate from the professional. The objective criteria in material terms, as opposed to spiritual, emphasize the reduction of income inequalities and eradication of poverty. But it misses a vital causative ingredient - inequality of access to knowledge and information which is essentially systemic and structural in modern social orders. In mundane measures for promoting equality, the concern for meeting the basic needs of the masses – food, clothing, shelter, education and health care – has long remained on the scene. With the turn of the century, however, need fulfillment seems losing ground to the guaranteeing of a universal minimum income to each national ensuring a reasonably decent living. This paper looks at the two alternatives from an Islamic perspective. It supports in conclusion need fulfillment as a better measure to universal income for ameliorating the fate of the poor.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Human development, Basic needs, Universal basic income, Islamic perspective.
• Subjects: I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I2 - Education and Research Institutions > I23 - Higher Education ; Research Institutions; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I2 - Education and Research Institutions > I25 - Education and Economic Development; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I2 - Education and Research Institutions > I28 - Government Policy

References

Covert, Boyce. (2018): "What Money Can Buy: The promise of a universal basic income – and its limitations", The Nation, vol. 307, no. 6 (10 / 17 September).

Ghosh, Jayati (2019): If you want to help the poor, The Indian Express, March 27, P. 12

Hasan, Z (1997): Fulfillment of Basic needs: Concept, measurement, and Muslim countries performance, International Journal of Economics and Management, IIUM, Kuala Lumpur.

----------- (2019): Distribution, Chapter 9 in Islamic Economics – Principles and Applications, ISRA, Kuala Lumpur

Iqbal, M. (1988 ed.): Distributive justice and need fulfillment in an Islamic economy, Leicester, UK.

Kipanga, Asad (2008): The Basic Needs GAP in Developing Economies: Measurements and Determinants, PhD Thesis (Unpublished) International Islamic University of Malaysia, (IIUM) Kuala Lumpur

Mendek, H. (2019): Why economic transfers are not enough? The Indian Express, April 12, p.13

Paul, S. (January 2011): How social security works. Bristol University Press.

Piketty, Thomas (2019): On NYAY, ENS Economic Bureau, Indian Express, April 16, P.16

Planning Commission of India

Rahman, H. (1946): Islam ka Iqtisadi Nizam (The Economic system of Islam (Urdu), Darul Musannifin, Delhi-6.

UNDP (2018): Human Development Report

World Bank (2018) Report on poverty and shared prosperity.