National Income Policy in a Deregulated Economy: the Nigerian perspective.

Abstract

This paper examines the propriety of a national income policy in a deregulated economy. The literature indicates that various interest groups in the country tend to protect their narrow interests when negotiating for higher wages. Consequently, the goals of government to achieve equitable income distribution in the country with a national income policy are often at variance with the private interests. While congenial atmosphere for collective bargaining was deemed desirable foe achieving effective income growth, an environment of consistently rising prices was considered an anticlimax to growth and development. Consequently, the paper opined that in a market economy, a national income policy that does not include elements of restraint on prices development was likely to fail. Thus, an income policy must be packaged as a set of comprehensive macroeconomic, monetary and fiscal policies for effective results. As part of the national income policy, an income guidepost with provision for periodic review is advocated.