A lifetime salary , a revolutionary idea for some, a costly utopia for others. What if France took the plunge? This system, championed by economist Bernard Friot, would guarantee a fixed income for everyone , from adulthood to retirement. No more unemployment, no more job insecurity, total security. But at what cost.
A guaranteed income for all. What would a “lifetime salary” mean?
The principle is simple: every citizen receives a salary, whether they work or not. It is not a basic income, but a salary, awarded based on recognition of skills and not on employment.
The idea? End job blackmail and give workers back their power. No more underpaid jobs and precarious contracts: everyone could devote themselves fully to a meaningful activity.
Economist and sociologist Bernard Friot is behind this radical proposal. According to him, work should no longer be conditioned by the market, but recognized as an inalienable right. He draws on the example of the French pension system, where retirees continue to receive an income without being subject to employment. Why not extend this principle to the entire working population?
Today, in France, nearly 9 million people live below the poverty line, or on less than €1,158 per month. A lifetime wage would help eradicate this economic poverty while ensuring a more equitable distribution of wealth. This system would also guarantee stronger social protection and reduce inequalities in access to essential goods and services. But how can such a system be financed?
A financial revolution, or not?
The project’s supporters propose socializing income. In concrete terms, companies would pay contributions to a national fund, which would redistribute wages. This model is inspired by Social Security, where pensions are already collectively financed. This would mean the end of employer-set salaries and the establishment of a national pay scale, guaranteeing everyone a decent standard of living.
Bernard Friot believes that economic value is created by collective labor, not by shareholders or bosses. In his vision, companies would no longer be private , but would belong collectively to workers. Income would no longer be tied to profits, but to a recognition of the social utility of each individual.
Salary would thus be a political right and not a market income
The cost? Estimates range from €1 trillion to €1.8 trillion per year . A colossal sum, but one that could be offset by cutting social assistance, unemployment, and job placement programs. Not to mention the gains in consumption and economic stability.
A society where everyone has a guaranteed income would see an increase in purchasing power and a boost in demand, which drives growth. Some economists also argue that eliminating extreme wage gaps could lead to a more inclusive and resilient economy.
Lifetime Salary A Realizable Utopia?
Some countries are already testing forms of universal basic income . I Finland, an experiment conducted between 2017 and 2019 showed a slight improvement in the well-being of recipients, without a significant impact on employment.
In Spain , regions such as Catalonia are also exploring this path, developing guaranteed minimum income programs. In the United States, some cities are experimenting with a basic income funded by local taxes and private initiatives.
In France, the idea remains marginal. Unions are divided, political andd cal parties are cautious. Emmanuel Macron has already rejected the universal basic income proposed by Benoît Hamon in 2025.
Yet, faced with galloping inflation (4.9% in 2023) and growing job insecurity, the time for debate seems ripe. Moreover, robotization and artificial intelligence are transforming the labor market, rendering many jobs obsolete.
A lifetime salary could then emerge as a response to this shift. In a context where automation reduces the need for labor, ensuring a fixed income could prevent an explosion of inequality and guarantee a fairer economic transition.
The only solution to emancipate workers?
Proponents of a lifetime wage insist it’s the only way to emancipate workers. No more begging for a job, no more exploitation, and total security . With a guaranteed income, individuals would be free to choose their activities and innovate without fear of tomorrow.
Some even see it as a driving force for artistic, scientific, and entrepreneurial creation. By promoting a model where everyone can flourish according to their skills and aspirations, work would regain meaning and no longer be a mere economic constraint.
Its opponents, however, fear a perverse effect: a drop in productivity, a collapse in investment, or even a flight of businesses. Would bosses refuse to contribute to a system that takes away their power to set wages?
Others fear a downward leveling of skills if work ceases to be a driver of social change. Some economists also warn of an inflationary risk if consumption increases without adequate production .
Bernard Friot and his supporters respond to these criticisms by asserting that economic emancipation would not lead to laziness, but to a society where everyone could engage in an activity chosen and valued collectively. Work would not disappear; it would simply be freed from the constraint of short-term profitability.
Is France ready to take the plunge? Not yet. But with rising inequality, the crisis of the capitalist model, and the transformation of the labor market, the idea could well gain ground. In a world where precariousness and economic insecurity are becoming the norm, a lifetime salary could no longer seem like a utopia, but a necessity. And you, what do you think of a lifetime salary?
