The idea of providing everyone with an unconditional “basic income” is a popular topic these days – though it’s clearly not a new idea. I know many people today who think it is positively inevitable. At some point in the foreseeable future, inequality will reach such extreme levels that we will discover the need to give everyone free money, without any strings attached to it.
Below is a TEDx talk by Rutger Bregman where he explains why this is what we should be doing. One of his examples is a study that was done in London where they gave a group of homeless people free money. What they discovered was that they didn’t just go out and buy alcohol and drugs, which is what some of you may be thinking. They did positive things with it. They became empowered.
The idea of providing everyone with an unconditional “basic income” is a popular topic these days – though it’s clearly not a new idea. I know many people today who think it is positively inevitable. At some point in the foreseeable future, inequality will reach such extreme levels that we will discover the need to give everyone free money, without any strings attached to it.
Below is a TEDx talk by Rutger Bregman where he explains why this is what we should be doing. One of his examples is a study that was done in London where they gave a group of homeless people free money. What they discovered was that they didn’t just go out and buy alcohol and drugs, which is what some of you may be thinking. They did positive things with it. They became empowered.
There’s lots of talk these days about how technological innovation and globalization are taking our jobs.
Of course, these are not unreasonable concerns. The data suggests a hollowing out of the middle class and the threat of automation feels perhaps more real than over with the recent advancements in AI and robotics.
But here are 3 things to consider and discuss:
1) It doesn’t feel realistic to believe that the jobs which went overseas will ever return en masse – as nice as it may sound to argue that. They went overseas to take advantage of a particular cost structure and those motives haven’t changed.
2) It is not guaranteed that technological innovation will destroy more jobs than it creates. In fact, historically the opposite has often been true. The jobs that were lost by technological innovation were replaced by new / more jobs and greater economic surpluses. For instance, think of agriculture.
3) But could this time be different? If we are indeed entering a new economic period, then it strikes me that 1), above, becomes even further away from the right solution. Some of the proposed solutions include universal basic income and a robot tax (links to interview with Bill Gates).
On June 5, 2016, Switzerland will become the first country to hold a national referendum on the introduction of an
3 thoughts on employment
There’s lots of talk these days about how technological innovation and globalization are taking our jobs.
Of course, these are not unreasonable concerns. The data suggests a hollowing out of the middle class and the threat of automation feels perhaps more real than over with the recent advancements in AI and robotics.
But here are 3 things to consider and discuss:
1) It doesn’t feel realistic to believe that the jobs which went overseas will ever return en masse – as nice as it may sound to argue that. They went overseas to take advantage of a particular cost structure and those motives haven’t changed.
2) It is not guaranteed that technological innovation will destroy more jobs than it creates. In fact, historically the opposite has often been true. The jobs that were lost by technological innovation were replaced by new / more jobs and greater economic surpluses. For instance, think of agriculture.
3) But could this time be different? If we are indeed entering a new economic period, then it strikes me that 1), above, becomes even further away from the right solution. Some of the proposed solutions include universal basic income and a robot tax (links to interview with Bill Gates).
On June 5, 2016, Switzerland will become the first country to hold a national referendum on the introduction of an
Unconditional Basic Income
. The proposal is essentially an income guarantee that would ensure everyone in the country is paid a minimum after-tax amount of 2,500 Swiss francs per month.
The idea is that this would replace various other social programs. But unlike traditional welfare, people would be allowed to work. If you happened to be making less than 2,500 Swiss francs per month, then you would simply get topped up to ensure you hit this minimum income level.
Supporters believe that a dramatic rethink of income redistribution is needed in our current information economy where income inequality is rising and productivity gains don’t seem to be getting applied evenly.
There is also an argument that a basic income guarantee could encourage more entrepreneurship. If we didn’t need to work, would more of us start a company and/or pursue our passions?
Personally, I’m not sure about an income guarantee. It’s difficult to predict the broader impacts. But it’s worth exploring and many people – are various ends of the political spectrum – are doing just that. (Additional reading material can be found here, here, and here.)
I haven’t made up my mind on this topic, so I would be curious to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
. The proposal is essentially an income guarantee that would ensure everyone in the country is paid a minimum after-tax amount of 2,500 Swiss francs per month.
The idea is that this would replace various other social programs. But unlike traditional welfare, people would be allowed to work. If you happened to be making less than 2,500 Swiss francs per month, then you would simply get topped up to ensure you hit this minimum income level.
Supporters believe that a dramatic rethink of income redistribution is needed in our current information economy where income inequality is rising and productivity gains don’t seem to be getting applied evenly.
There is also an argument that a basic income guarantee could encourage more entrepreneurship. If we didn’t need to work, would more of us start a company and/or pursue our passions?
Personally, I’m not sure about an income guarantee. It’s difficult to predict the broader impacts. But it’s worth exploring and many people – are various ends of the political spectrum – are doing just that. (Additional reading material can be found here, here, and here.)
I haven’t made up my mind on this topic, so I would be curious to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
