Author: automata

Sukhi Samra: What even a modest guaranteed income might have done for my mom

Sukhi Samra: What even a modest guaranteed income might have done for my mom

At 53 years old, my mom began studying for the GED. She had enrolled in GED courses twice before, but dropped out because there just weren’t enough hours in the day to juggle school, work, three daughters and a disabled husband.

This time, however, was going to be different. In her own words: “I’m not stopping. I want to prove to myself that I can do this, even if I reach retirement age before I finish.”

After 25 years working multiple minimum-wage jobs to make ends meet, my mom was determined to break the cycle of economic insecurity and find a […]

Chicago Legislators Look to Use Stimulus Money for Monthly Direct Payments

Chicago Legislators Look to Use Stimulus Money for Monthly Direct Payments

Chicago is poised to receive $1.9 billion from the American Rescue Plan and some local legislators want to use it to start a universal basic income program for low-income residents.

A $50 million investment would create the largest publicly funded guaranteed income program in the country. It comes on the heels of Gary, Indiana, implementing a universal basic income program of its own and while details of Chicago’s pilot program haven’t been finalized, it could send $500 payments to residents each month.

Alderman Gilbert Villegas is leading the effort to bring a universal basic income to Chicago. He championed it for […]

A Case for a Canadian Basic Income

A Case for a Canadian Basic Income

David Brady Image: Pixabay / Mediamodifier The creation of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit was seen by many observers as a first step towards basic income, a policy which has long been advocated for as a replacement to the current social safety net. The benefit was such a success that in May 2020, a letter signed by fifty Canadian Senators made its way to the Prime Minister’s Office calling on the government to turn CERB into a permanent system. Basic income’s shift from a fringe policy to one with mainstream appeal has meant an increasing body of research over […]

Chicago lawmakers looking to give $500 monthly stimulus checks from $1.9trillion stimulus bill

Chicago lawmakers looking to give $500 monthly stimulus checks from $1.9trillion stimulus bill

CHICAGO lawmakers are gearing up to use their share of the $1.9 trillion covid relief bill by distributing monthly $500 checks to its constituents.

Local legislators are toying with the trailblazing proposal to create a universal basic income for their low-income residents, inspired by the extra-income scheme launched in Gary, Indiana. The pilot scheme could see $500 checks sent out monthly to struggling residents of Chicago Credit: AFP or licensors The city in Illinois is set to receive $1.8 billion in federal relief funds Credit: Getty Images – Getty Although Chicago’s plans are still in the pipework, lawmakers want to […]

Today’s letters: A year at QCH, a plea for guaranteed basic income

Today's letters: A year at QCH, a plea for guaranteed basic income

Paramedics from nine different services across eastern Ontario, along with the Queensway Carleton Hospital, set up a pop-up drive-through COVID-19 testing centre, with the help of the Ottawa Senators, at the Canadian Tire Centre in September. Article content

Thanks to – and from – everyone at QCH

On March 12th, 2020, the first COVID-19 patient was admitted at Queensway Carleton Hospital. One year later, it’s incredible to think about what we have all accomplished together – as a community, as health care partners, and at QCH itself.In the early days of the pandemic, our team stepped up. At QCH, […]

The new stimulus bill includes a groundbreaking basic-income policy — parents can receive up to $3,600 per child this year

The new stimulus bill includes a groundbreaking basic-income policy — parents can receive up to $3,600 per child this year

Maskot/Getty Images The new COVID-19 stimulus bill expands the child tax credit to offer most parents monthly checks.

Parents can receive up to $3,600 per child for a year, no strings attached.

Economists say the groundbreaking program is akin to a basic-income policy. See more stories on Insider’s business page . President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill into law on Thursday. Tucked into it is a $100 billion plan to offer most parents recurring monthly checks from July through December: $300 per child under age 6 and $250 per child ages 6 to 17. After […]

Economics in Brief: Ex Mayor Who Advocated for Guaranteed Income to Advise California Governor

Economics in Brief: Ex Mayor Who Advocated for Guaranteed Income to Advise California Governor

In this photo from July 2018, Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs responds to a question during his appearance before the Sacramento Press Club. Tubbs announced this week that he would be joining the Newsom administration as special advisor for economic opportunity and mobility. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) Former Stockton Mayor Who Championed Guaranteed Income Joins Newsom Administration

Michael Tubbs, the former mayor of Stockton, California, whose three-year basic income experiment has been making headlines for how it improved low-income residents’ well-being, will become “special advisor for economic mobility and opportunity” for California Governor Gavin Newsom, the Sacramento Bee reports .

The unpaid […]

It’s Time To Give Chicagoans Living In Poverty A Fighting Chance, Aldermen Say — With Monthly Checks From The City

It’s Time To Give Chicagoans Living In Poverty A Fighting Chance, Aldermen Say — With Monthly Checks From The City

Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago Part of Chicago’s skyline in the cold of winter as seen from the 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck in the Streeterville neighborhood on Feb. 5, 2021. CHICAGO — Three aldermen are pushing a proposal to launch a universal basic income pilot-program, sending monthly, no-strings-attached checks to a small group of city residents.

A new measure led by Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th), Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) and Ald. Sophia King (4th) would take funding from federal grant money and private partnerships among other sources to support the direct payments for residents and families.

Villegas said dollar amounts or the […]

Just Group launches automated retirement advice service

Just Group launches automated retirement advice service

"There aren’t enough advisers for the hundreds of thousands of people starting their life after work, many of whom have modest assets and are reluctant to pay the premium fees for traditional advice." HUB Financial Solutions, the corporate solutions and advice business of Just Group, has launched an automated retirement advice service, Destination Retirement.

Destination Retirement will provide regulated financial advice to people starting, or transitioning into, their life after work. The new service is available to employers, pension scheme trustees and corporate partners who want to deliver the benefits of regulated advice to their colleagues, members and customers as […]

Why old industrialization pathways won’t work for Africa

Why old industrialization pathways won’t work for Africa

As the world is embracing new technologies such as 3D printing, Africa is likely to lose hundreds of thousands of jobs in the manufacturing sector. Unless the continent embraces these new technologies and diversify its economies, it will lose many jobs like witnessed in countries like China and other developed nations, according to issue paper by UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

The issue paper, “Sustainable industrialization and diversification of Africa in the digital era in the context of COVID-19”, which is set to be presented at the upcoming African economy ministers meeting suggests that these technologies offer new […]