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Is the World Ready for a Guaranteed Basic Income?

freakonomics.com

1–10 of 133 posts

Re: Is the World Ready for a Guaranteed Basic Income?

#2
Negative. Those with money will fight like hell to keep from giving it up. However if by some chance/miracle a guaranteed income is ever instituted, it will become a political football, as politicians and advocacy groups seek to continuously push it higher and higher. Instead of a money handout, I would rather support money in exchange for public works and service. I don't believe handouts without some kind of exchange will ever really work.

Re: Is the World Ready for a Guaranteed Basic Income?

#3
I think we should just call it what it is a dividend. We have crossed a point where handing off 10% of everyone's income allows for a reasonable minimum standard of living. But, because progress is always going to cost some people more than others we need to align incentives.

Sorry, I know your a world class doctor, but Auto Scan (TM) just does a better job.

The important thing to remember is that % for a given standard is dropping over time. If 1% is enough to reach the current US standard then it's going to be really hard to say no.

PS: I don't think we will take this global any time soon. But, we could. World GDP is 106 dollars per person per day. 10% of that is 10.06$ per person per day. 80% of humanity lives on less than 10$ per day.

Re: Is the World Ready for a Guaranteed Basic Income?

#4
post #3

I think we should just call it what it is a dividend. We have crossed a point where handing off 10% of everyone's income allows for a reasonable minimum standard of living. But, because progress is always going to cost some people more than others we need to align incentives. Sorry, I know your a world class doctor, but Auto Scan (TM) just does a better job. The important thing to remember is that % for a given stand…

Could you expand on "align incentives" a little more please?

Re: Is the World Ready for a Guaranteed Basic Income?

#5

Negative. Those with money will fight like hell to keep from giving it up. However if by some chance/miracle a guaranteed income is ever instituted, it will become a political football, as politicians and advocacy groups seek to continuously push it higher and higher. Instead of a money handout, I would rather support money in exchange for public works and service. I don't believe handouts without some kind of exchan…

It's not just those with money that will fight it like hell, a lot of people without much money see working for access to resources as a fairness issue.

Re: Is the World Ready for a Guaranteed Basic Income?

#6

Negative. Those with money will fight like hell to keep from giving it up. However if by some chance/miracle a guaranteed income is ever instituted, it will become a political football, as politicians and advocacy groups seek to continuously push it higher and higher. Instead of a money handout, I would rather support money in exchange for public works and service. I don't believe handouts without some kind of exchan…

Politically I don't see it being any different to progressive taxes which many (most?) countries already implement.

Practically I suspect it will need to be quite low to avoid all sorts of distortions.

Re: Is the World Ready for a Guaranteed Basic Income?

#7

Negative. Those with money will fight like hell to keep from giving it up. However if by some chance/miracle a guaranteed income is ever instituted, it will become a political football, as politicians and advocacy groups seek to continuously push it higher and higher. Instead of a money handout, I would rather support money in exchange for public works and service. I don't believe handouts without some kind of exchan…

Politically I don't see it being any different to progressive taxes which many (most?) countries already implement. Practically I suspect it will need to be quite low to avoid all sorts of distortions.

By politically I'm imagining a politician campaigning on the promise to increase the basic minimum income. Vote for me and I'll get your basic income increased. Don't vote for my opponent because they just want to cut your basic income! It's the tax issue all over again.

Re: Is the World Ready for a Guaranteed Basic Income?

#8
post #3

I think we should just call it what it is a dividend. We have crossed a point where handing off 10% of everyone's income allows for a reasonable minimum standard of living. But, because progress is always going to cost some people more than others we need to align incentives. Sorry, I know your a world class doctor, but Auto Scan (TM) just does a better job. The important thing to remember is that % for a given stand…

Could you expand on "align incentives" a little more please?

Why would I, a rich person, pay 10% of my income in the US when I can simply claim citizenship of another (business focused) country?

Re: Is the World Ready for a Guaranteed Basic Income?

#9
post #3

I think we should just call it what it is a dividend. We have crossed a point where handing off 10% of everyone's income allows for a reasonable minimum standard of living. But, because progress is always going to cost some people more than others we need to align incentives. Sorry, I know your a world class doctor, but Auto Scan (TM) just does a better job. The important thing to remember is that % for a given stand…

Could you expand on "align incentives" a little more please?

At some point the poor are better off starting a revolution than being stuck at the bottom. We are heading to a future where most people are going to be poor because an average person with an average education is going to be unable to find a job.

Re: Is the World Ready for a Guaranteed Basic Income?

#10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Politically I don't see it being any different to progressive taxes which many (most?) countries already implement. Practically I suspect it will need to be quite low to avoid all sorts of distortions.

By politically I'm imagining a politician campaigning on the promise to increase the basic minimum income. Vote for me and I'll get your basic income increased. Don't vote for my opponent because they just want to cut your basic income! It's the tax issue all over again.

Exactly, and just as likely to be gummed up by complexity. After all, how can you be against teachers and firefighters receiving just a little more BI for their essential, thankless jobs?
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