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People kept working, became healthier while on basic income: report

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Re: People kept working, became healthier while on basic income: report

#11

The issue I see with basic income is that most money is spent on housing and health care. These two things are supply constrained so it's more of an auction for who can afford them. With basic income, we may just raise the cost of those things. This problem wouldn't appear in a study that distributed to only some individuals. We need to solve the regulatory or otherwise organizational problems of these things to prov…

But this is from Canada, don't they have universal healthcare?

Re: People kept working, became healthier while on basic income: report

#12
> The three-year, $150-million program

Three year. Would you quit your job, and move somewhere cheaper if you knew the money will run out after three years, and you'll have a three year gap in your CV?

Are there really no lottery winners winning lifetime monthly payouts to study?

Because, if you gave me 5x average earnings for three years, I wouldn't quit my job. But if you guaranteed the money for the rest of my life, i'd pursue different activities (fun, good for me, but non-productive for society).

Re: People kept working, became healthier while on basic income: report

#13
post #7

My issue, and I only have one, with these pilot projects for basic income is that its not realistic. The people in the project know that it will end at a fixed time, so their actions are different compared to what would happen in a BI/UBI system.

I've noticed that a lot of people who are born rich still choose to work.

Yes, usually to stay rich.

Re: People kept working, became healthier while on basic income: report

#14
post #11

The issue I see with basic income is that most money is spent on housing and health care. These two things are supply constrained so it's more of an auction for who can afford them. With basic income, we may just raise the cost of those things. This problem wouldn't appear in a study that distributed to only some individuals. We need to solve the regulatory or otherwise organizational problems of these things to prov…

But this is from Canada, don't they have universal healthcare?

Nowhere has universal healthcare. The basic healthcare is bad, so you can pay more to get better access, or go to the US for actual good care.

Re: People kept working, became healthier while on basic income: report

#15

The issue I see with basic income is that most money is spent on housing and health care. These two things are supply constrained so it's more of an auction for who can afford them. With basic income, we may just raise the cost of those things. This problem wouldn't appear in a study that distributed to only some individuals. We need to solve the regulatory or otherwise organizational problems of these things to prov…

> most money is spent on housing and health care

In Canada?

Would not an increase in demand for such things lead to a corresponding increase in supply? Or is there something I don't know about supply restrictions in Canada?

Re: People kept working, became healthier while on basic income: report

#16
post #11

The issue I see with basic income is that most money is spent on housing and health care. These two things are supply constrained so it's more of an auction for who can afford them. With basic income, we may just raise the cost of those things. This problem wouldn't appear in a study that distributed to only some individuals. We need to solve the regulatory or otherwise organizational problems of these things to prov…

But this is from Canada, don't they have universal healthcare?

Yes, and many municipalities have rent regulations

Re: People kept working, became healthier while on basic income: report

#17

My issue, and I only have one, with these pilot projects for basic income is that its not realistic. The people in the project know that it will end at a fixed time, so their actions are different compared to what would happen in a BI/UBI system.

We already have a pilot project - the Alaska Permanent Fund, it's been running since 1976.

Re: People kept working, became healthier while on basic income: report

#18

My issue, and I only have one, with these pilot projects for basic income is that its not realistic. The people in the project know that it will end at a fixed time, so their actions are different compared to what would happen in a BI/UBI system.

“Almost all survey respondents indicated that the pilot's cancellation forced them to place on hold or abandon certain life plans," reads the report.”

Re: People kept working, became healthier while on basic income: report

#19

My issue, and I only have one, with these pilot projects for basic income is that its not realistic. The people in the project know that it will end at a fixed time, so their actions are different compared to what would happen in a BI/UBI system.

Yes, this is the glaring flaw in all of them as far as I've seen. On the other hand, who knows how long UBI would stay in place in a democratic country? It might get voted out in the next election, too.

It's been about 40 years for the Alaska permanent fund dividends and it's popular AFAIK.

Re: People kept working, became healthier while on basic income: report

#20

> The three-year, $150-million program Three year. Would you quit your job, and move somewhere cheaper if you knew the money will run out after three years, and you'll have a three year gap in your CV? Are there really no lottery winners winning lifetime monthly payouts to study? Because, if you gave me 5x average earnings for three years, I wouldn't quit my job. But if you guaranteed the money for the rest of my lif…

I'd use 3 years to unapologetically recover from the daily grind that is working daily, and figure out what I really wanted to do. It would make for a great opportunity to figure out and build skills for what I want to do in the next phase of my life.

A 3 year gap (call it a sabbatical and get all kinds of kudos for being so brave) isn't that hard to overcome, if you have the required skills.

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