Author: automata

National’s proposed tax cuts highlighted the unfairness of our system. Moving the 10.5% rate from $14,000/yr to $22,000 gave no benefit to those below $14,000 and $560/yr to those above $22,000 while the move of the 17.5% rate from $48,000 to $52,000 gave those above $52,000 a further $500/yr. The more you have the more you get.

Currently, above $70,000/yr the rate is 33% but such income benefits from all the lower tax rates. The benefit compared to paying 33% on all that income is $9080. But, for example, on $14,000/yr the benefit is only $3150. The reductions from 33% […]

Full Post at www.scoop.co.nz

New research from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy suggests that a universal basic income would not cause people to leave the workforce.

Such proposals, including one considered by Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential campaign, include direct payments that ensure each resident has a baseline of income to provide for basic needs. While previous research has focused on the effects of these unconditional cash transfers at the micro level–for example, winning the lottery–
In a working paper released Feb. 12 by the National Bureau of Economic Research , Assoc. Prof. Damon Jones of Harris Public […]

Full Post at www.myscience.org

‘If we were to start paying a UBI, there’s a lot that needs fixing – there’s an awful lot of trauma that’s been induced by poverty and stress’ Trialled in Canada and Finland, endorsed by Silicon Valley executives, and touted as a potential flagship policy for a future Labour government, universal basic income is the big idea on everyone’s lips. But how would it actually work? We ask our expert the difficult questions.

What’s the problem?

It’s not just about the rise of the robots, the real problem is that not everyone gets a fair share in the wealth […]

Full Post at www.independent.co.uk

Trialled in Canada and Finland, endorsed by Silicon Valley executives, and touted as a potential flagship policy for a future Labour government, universal basic income is the big idea on everyone’s lips. But how would it actually work? We ask our expert the difficult questions. What’s the problem?

Trialled in Canada and Finland, endorsed by Silicon Valley executives, and touted as a potential flagship policy for a future Labour government, universal basic income is the big idea on everyone’s lips. But how would it actually work? We ask our expert the difficult questions.

What’s the problem? It’s not just about […]

Full Post at www.cetusnews.com

On why basic income has not yet been deployed: now it’s Namibia

So the basic income implementation process in Namibia was halted(1). The question is: is that surprising?

After an amazing effort by minister Zephania Kameeta to get a basic income implementation program for Namibia up to the (minister) council, it was just swept away and replaced by a program intended to alleviate poverty through economic growth. The progressive approach was replaced by the traditional economic orthodoxy of endless growth and continued inequality. This program, named “ Harambee Prosperity Plan ”, also includes the creation of a food bank and […]

Full Post at epeak.in

This essay was originally published in the USBIG NewsFlash in October 2008.

In January 2008, a Basic Income Grant (BIG) pilot project began in the Otjivero-Omitara area in Namibia. All residents below the age of 60 years receive a Basic Income Grant of 100 Namibian dollars per person per month, without any conditions attached. According to BIEN, the grant is being given to every person registered as living there in July 2007, whatever their social and economic status. This BIG pilot project is designed and implemented by the Namibian Basic Income Grant Coalition (established in 2004) and is the […]

Full Post at basicincome.org

Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs with fiancee Anna Stockton, California’s mayor, Michael Tubbs, has been in the news quite a bit lately, and for good reason. The 27-year-old Stanford graduate has, in partnership with nonprofits, started the process of implementing some truly incredible policy projects.

The project that’s earned him and Stockton the most attention—both positive and negative—has been the partnership with the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration . The program will try out universal basic income (UBI) with some of Stockton’s residents, who will receive $500 per month during the project’s pilot phase.

UBI programs have been criticized as removing the incentive […]

Full Post at nonprofitquarterly.org

A new Harris Public Policy study examines the effect of unconditional cash transfers on labor markets. New research from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy suggests that a universal basic income would not cause people to leave the workforce.

Such proposals, including one considered by Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential campaign, include direct payments that ensure each resident has a baseline of income to provide for basic needs. While previous research has focused on the effects of these unconditional cash transfers at the micro level—for example, winning the lottery— this study examined their large-scale impact by […]

Full Post at news.uchicago.edu