Income and Other Goals

If you go over Table 1 again, you will notice one common thing: what most people desire are regular work, better wages, and decent price for their crops and other products that they produce. In other words, they want more income.

Besides seeking more income – one-way or the other, people also seek things like equal treatment, freedom, security and respect from others. They resent discrimination. All these are important goals. In fact, in some cases, these may be more important than more income or more consumption because material goods are not all that you need to live. Money or material things that one can buy with it is just one factor on which our life depends. But the quality of our life also depends on non-material things mentioned above. If it is not obvious to you, then just think of the role of your friends in your life. You may desire their friendship. Similarly, there are many things that are not easily measured but they mean a lot to our lives. These are often ignored. Therefore, it will be wrong to conclude that what cannot be measured is not important.

Consider another example. If you get a job in a far off place, you would try to consider many factors apart from income. This could be facilities for your family, working atmosphere or opportunity to learn. In another case, a job may give you less pay but may offer regular employment that enhances your sense of security. Another job,