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Basic Income Research Proposal

basicincome.ycr.org

31–40 of 427 posts

Re: Basic Income Research Proposal

#32

You know this might be speculative, but I feel like a basic income applied to a national allows that population to act more like an ant hive. In the sense that only 3% of the population is actually doing the real hard work, but this is a healthy paradigm, and is much better than forcing individuals who shouldn't be doing the work they currently are to pursue things they actually care about, such as taking care of lov…

A lot more video games will be played

Re: Basic Income Research Proposal

#33

Wow. Looks like they'll spend a lot of money for this research. Congrats to everyone involved! I thought basic income was about a time where AI would take most of the jobs, and everything would be far cheaper thanks to automation. I cannot understand how it'll help you not work in the current world. Because working part-time might not be an option for many, even if they are ready to forgo the money. We also have not…

For what I know, basic income is not about allowing people to not work, but instead, push people to work by allowing them to take risks by trying to work in a field they actually want to work.

Starting this wood-carving artisanat shop that you're insanely good at looks a lot more promising when you know you'll have a bit of money to eat at the end of the month :D

A huge hope of defensors of basic income is that it may pay itself by the economy boost it gives, and won't just add $1000 to every rent bill in the area !

Re: Basic Income Research Proposal

#34

> First, we just wrapped up a one-year feasibility study in Oakland Are the results of this feasibility study publicly available?

Yes, you can go and read about communism and how 100s of millions died while it was being implemented

Basic income is not the same as forced equality. I do fear that basic income will only result in hyperinflation, but it's hard to effectively estimate the impact without actually doing some trial run.

Re: Basic Income Research Proposal

#35
I like the idea of basic income but I confess that my ideal of a basic income recipient is someone akin to the 19th-century amateur scientist subsisting on a private income whilst making original contributions to human knowledge, and, as a side effect, to society.

Whereas the reality of people receiving free money might be somewhat different. There's the drip, drip welfare payments of just enough money to survive without being motivated to find a job. Then there's the fallout, family break-up and chaos that occur in the wake of a lottery win. Both morally questionable.

Or perhaps there might be a settling down period of people acting irresponsibly followed by a recognition that engagement with the problems of civilisation and survival doesn't end because one has food, shelter and internet. There are novels to write, structures to design, problems to solve and of course there's science to be done. Work is more fun than 'fun'. Pick something worthy of your talents or start the slide into mental disorder and addiction.

Whatever the truth it almost goes without saying that a study alone cannot sort these issues out. Perhaps it can help. But in science experiment is insufficient there has to be theory to go with. (This is a major reason why so few studies in medicine and psychology are reproducible. I assume in sociology too.) What makes it more difficult in this case is there are moral components which can't be assessed empirically, only by conjecture and criticism.

Re: Basic Income Research Proposal

#36

You know this might be speculative, but I feel like a basic income applied to a national allows that population to act more like an ant hive. In the sense that only 3% of the population is actually doing the real hard work, but this is a healthy paradigm, and is much better than forcing individuals who shouldn't be doing the work they currently are to pursue things they actually care about, such as taking care of lov…

A lot more video games will be played

As a game developer I'm 100% okay with that!

Re: Basic Income Research Proposal

#37
post #28

I would speculate that any end date on this scenario will invalidate results. What a person does if it is guaranteed a job for life vs 5 years is wildly different, as you'll need to make sure when those 5 years are up, you'll be ready to enter the job market again, etc. I believe the same will happen with basic income. If we want to study where people gravitate to more fulfilling jobs, feel happier and so on, you nee…

If the government guarantees a basic income, you're really only guaranteed (at best) until the next election cycle. Just recently, seven years after its passing, the ACA was nearly reverted, which would have kicked millions of people off government-subsidized health insurance plans.

Re: Basic Income Research Proposal

#38

> First, we just wrapped up a one-year feasibility study in Oakland Are the results of this feasibility study publicly available?

Yes, you can go and read about communism and how 100s of millions died while it was being implemented

That gave me a serious chuckle. It was so unexpected. Thank you.

Re: Basic Income Research Proposal

#39
post #28

I would speculate that any end date on this scenario will invalidate results. What a person does if it is guaranteed a job for life vs 5 years is wildly different, as you'll need to make sure when those 5 years are up, you'll be ready to enter the job market again, etc. I believe the same will happen with basic income. If we want to study where people gravitate to more fulfilling jobs, feel happier and so on, you nee…

They'll have to train and prepare to enter the job market again? That's terrible!

Re: Basic Income Research Proposal

#40

Wow. Looks like they'll spend a lot of money for this research. Congrats to everyone involved! I thought basic income was about a time where AI would take most of the jobs, and everything would be far cheaper thanks to automation. I cannot understand how it'll help you not work in the current world. Because working part-time might not be an option for many, even if they are ready to forgo the money. We also have not…

Because it is not meant to "help you not work." It is meant to ensure a basic minimum whether you work or not. It is also not meant to "pay for a comfortable life." It is meant to prevent you from starving.

For the sake of argument, however, as you say, going part time is not an option for many people. For the lowest paid jobs, on the other hand, going full time is often not an option. The jobs at the bottom tend to be part time with no benefits and no guaranteed hours. These are the people who will be most benefited by a basic income. If they are additionally stuck in a hostile work environment, the basic income may give them enough cushion to quit the job rather than hanging on just so they don't starve. It may also give them enough money to take time off work and go to school in order to earn a slightly better income. And, if they are laid off through no fault of their own, it may allow them to eat until they can find another job.

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