EITC isn't really the same thing as the basic income/negative income tax. The basic income has no means test whatsoever, whereas the EITC does. Check out the wi

EITC isn't really the same thing as the basic income/negative income tax. The basic income has no means test whatsoever, whereas the EITC does. Check out the wiki on it. Also, most economists support the basic income as the ideal system of welfare (as confirmed in the article this thread is about), and it is intended to replace all other forms of welfare, including Social Security and Medicare. Tax withholding was done during WW2 and before Friedman had changed his views considerably. But monetarism is his crowning achievement, it is what he is best known for, and where he was most influential. Friedman beat inflation and solved the mystery of the Great Depression.