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A basic income could boost the US economy by $2.5 trillion

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Re: A basic income could boost the US economy by $2.5 trillion

#11
post #3

The only place I can think of that has done something similar is the oil and land rights of the native people of Alaska, who get checks somewhere in that range. How has this turned out for them?

the difference is the Alaska pulled natural resources out of the ground. Basic Income is just wealth transfer.

Re: A basic income could boost the US economy by $2.5 trillion

#12

" enacting a UBI and paying for it by increasing the federal debt would grow the economy (and increase GDP)" Printing trillions and trillions of dollars of money would increase the debt and increase GDP. Let's do that too!

We're already doing that[1]. It's just that Quantitative Easing is being injected in the economy via banks.

[1] I'm actually European, but the ECB and the Federal Reserve are behaving in similar fashion, in this case.

Re: A basic income could boost the US economy by $2.5 trillion

#13

At a cost of $24 trillion? Ha! 250m[1] * $1000 * 8 * 12 = $24,000,000,000,000 1. http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/99-total-populat...

If you increase taxation at the top ranges (and close loopholes the very rich and their corporate personas use to evade taxes and so on) you'll end up just injecting those trillions back into the economy.

If you use that to replace means-tested aid, you get rid of the management overhead.

And, maybe, if the US cuts costs for the military, making them build roads and schools instead of bombing them, you'll realize you really didn't need to spend that much in the military anyway...

There is also an important point in terms of opportunities lost due to low surplus. As you reduce the pressure on the poor, they will end up making better decisions (http://thepsychreport.com/research-application/featured-rese...) with better overall outcomes.

Re: A basic income could boost the US economy by $2.5 trillion

#14
post #13

At a cost of $24 trillion? Ha! 250m[1] * $1000 * 8 * 12 = $24,000,000,000,000 1. http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/99-total-populat...

If you increase taxation at the top ranges (and close loopholes the very rich and their corporate personas use to evade taxes and so on) you'll end up just injecting those trillions back into the economy. If you use that to replace means-tested aid, you get rid of the management overhead. And, maybe, if the US cuts costs for the military, making them build roads and schools instead of bombing them, you'll realize you…

> you'll end up just injecting those trillions back into the economy.

Right; that is, whichever economy those rich folks choose to call home. :)

Re: A basic income could boost the US economy by $2.5 trillion

#15

" enacting a UBI and paying for it by increasing the federal debt would grow the economy (and increase GDP)" Printing trillions and trillions of dollars of money would increase the debt and increase GDP. Let's do that too!

They're already on it. (Sad to say. 20 Trillion national debt, and climbing.)

How 'bout taking some of that fresh money to set up a new department of Federal officers who drive around and break windows? Think of all the business that would generate! That would really boost the economy.

One serious question though: since the Federal government is printing all the money they need, why should they collect income taxes? If we're going to ignore fundamental economic consequences, what's a little more fresh ink? Let's just party 'till the walls fall in, right? (A: it's all fun and games until the velocity of that money increases and hyperinflation comes calling.)

Re: A basic income could boost the US economy by $2.5 trillion

#16

" enacting a UBI and paying for it by increasing the federal debt would grow the economy (and increase GDP)" Printing trillions and trillions of dollars of money would increase the debt and increase GDP. Let's do that too!

Printing money doesn't necessarily increase the debt, it depends on who that money is being loaned to. It could actually reduce the debt relative to GDP via inflation.

Re: A basic income could boost the US economy by $2.5 trillion

#17
post #13

At a cost of $24 trillion? Ha! 250m[1] * $1000 * 8 * 12 = $24,000,000,000,000 1. http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/99-total-populat...

If you increase taxation at the top ranges (and close loopholes the very rich and their corporate personas use to evade taxes and so on) you'll end up just injecting those trillions back into the economy. If you use that to replace means-tested aid, you get rid of the management overhead. And, maybe, if the US cuts costs for the military, making them build roads and schools instead of bombing them, you'll realize you…

The entire US military budget is only $0.6T, or $4.8T over the relevant 8 years.

Re: A basic income could boost the US economy by $2.5 trillion

#18
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you increase taxation at the top ranges (and close loopholes the very rich and their corporate personas use to evade taxes and so on) you'll end up just injecting those trillions back into the economy. If you use that to replace means-tested aid, you get rid of the management overhead. And, maybe, if the US cuts costs for the military, making them build roads and schools instead of bombing them, you'll realize you…

> you'll end up just injecting those trillions back into the economy. Right; that is, whichever economy those rich folks choose to call home. :)

Yeah ok. I call BS. Let's see all these millionaires move to Jersey (the island), or the Cayman Islands.

Re: A basic income could boost the US economy by $2.5 trillion

#19

" enacting a UBI and paying for it by increasing the federal debt would grow the economy (and increase GDP)" Printing trillions and trillions of dollars of money would increase the debt and increase GDP. Let's do that too!

We're already doing that[1]. It's just that Quantitative Easing is being injected in the economy via banks. [1] I'm actually European, but the ECB and the Federal Reserve are behaving in similar fashion, in this case.

In a sense basic income would be an improvement over this in that the money would be going to everyone instead of primarily to the rich.

Re: A basic income could boost the US economy by $2.5 trillion

#20
It's more than the expense of paying the money and whether people will continue to work. What needs to also be closely studied is:

- Effect on crime

- Effect on drug addiction

- Effect on family outcomes

- Effect on education opportunities

I'd gladly pay more taxes if I could draw a direct link between UBI and a safer, happier society.

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