Author: automata

The Case for Universal Basic Income

The Case for Universal Basic Income

Photo via Public Domain

Universal Basic Income (UBI) is the idea that all citizens of a country should regularly receive an unconditional sum of money in order to pay for basic living necessities. In practice, UBI would replace the current welfare system and it’s numerous existing programs as a more transparent, efficient, and affordable alternative. UBI would ultimately eradicate poverty and prepare us for the future economy that is rapidly changing due to technological process and automation . Let’s take a closer look on how UBI could work in the American economy.

In America, the poverty line for a single […]

Basic income is a radical idea bound for the political mainstream – here’s why

Basic income is a radical idea bound for the political mainstream – here’s why

An idea gaining traction in various part of the world is that everyone in society should receive an amount of money from the state to cover their basic cost of living. People would no longer be stigmatised on benefits, argue supporters.

Dependent women would become financially independent. People would be freed to care for the elderly, crime would fall and the general health of the population would improve. Particularly in an era of fears about future mass unemployment caused by automation, there is a growing feeling that this citizens’ basic income is an idea that’s time has come.

Experiments are either […]

All I Want For Christmas Is A Minimum Basic Income

Merry Christmas. Or Chanukah. Or Kwanzaa. Whatever you celebrate, I hope you got a year-end bonus — because the robots are coming for your job.

They’re coming whether you’re a taxi driver or a truck driver . They’re coming whether you’re a doctor or a lawyer . If your job involves repetition, or information processing, or data analysis, you’re at risk.

You’re at risk because they’re better than you . They never sleep. They never get sick, or take vacations, or go on parental leave. They never break up with a significant other or get caught up in petty workplace dramas. […]

Finland to begin paying basic income to unemployed citizens

Finland to begin paying basic income to unemployed citizens

Finland will give 2,000 of its unemployed citizens the equivalent of £480 every month Finland is to introduce a basic income for some citizens from next month, becoming the first country to adopt the policy.

Two thousand unemployed people will be given €560 (£480) every month for two years, without any restrictions or conditions attached. Leaders hope the move will improve life quality, reduce unemployment and create jobs.

Recipients will not need to prove they are looking for work and the money will be given regardless of any other income the person earns. Read more The Finnish government is planning to […]

The self-driving, Thiel-tastic, botnet crazy tech year of 2016

The self-driving, Thiel-tastic, botnet crazy tech year of 2016

Jefferson Graham counts down the 7 top tech innovations of 2016, starting with Pokemon Go, on #TalkingTech SAN FRANCISCO — The image was startling, but a look into what could be tech’s immediate future.

After being ostracized by the tech industry for most of the election year, there sat venture capitalist Peter Thiel, beaming, to the left of President-elect Donald Trump at the Trump Tower Tech summit in mid-December.

Looking on, a ring of glum-faced and pensive tech titans, including Apple’s Tim Cook, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Alphabet CEO Larry Page and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg.Silicon Valley’s billionaire leaders had disavowed Trump […]

RA Mashelkar: “Automation to replace 69% jobs a serious concern”

RA Mashelkar: “Automation to replace 69% jobs a serious concern”

© Leading scientist and former CSIR chief, Dr RA Mashelkar explains the emerging technological scenario, the subsequent job losses and how to deal with it, in this interview with National Herald

India has seen a jobless growth in the last few years. According to Labour ministry data, around 1.2 crore people enter the workforce every year; however, in 2015, only 1.35 lakh jobs were created. In this backdrop, spontaneous disruption in technologies is set to soon debilitate jobs massively, which our policymakers don’t seem to be factoring in. In an interview with Sebastian PT , leading scientist and former […]

AI poses a threat to half of all jobs within two decades

(Photo: Getty) The Whitehouse has warned that up to half of all jobs are at risk of being replaced by AI Artificial intelligence (AI) could threaten almost half of all jobs in the next 10 to 20 years, as automation is poised to revolutionise future employment, according to a report.

While AI should be “welcomed for its potential economic benefits”, those benefits are unlikely to be evenly distributed across society, the Whitehouse report written by President Obama’s advisors found.

AI has been hailed as the lynchpin of the fourth industrial revolution, according to the World Economic Forum, and has been […]

Will universal basic income ever become an American reality?

Will universal basic income ever become an American reality?

Finland is on the verge of launching a two-year experiment in which a randomly selected group of 2,000 unemployed people—from white-collar computer programmers to blue-collar construction workers—will receive a monthly stipend of $580 in lieu of their typical benefits.

Meanwhile, the Silicon Valley startup incubator Y Combinator is preparing to launch a pilot project in Oakland, California, in which 1,000 families will receive unconditional cash grants ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 per month.

Will these basic income projects stimulate job growth and boost the economy? Will they improve people’s happiness and well-being? Will universal basic income ever become a reality for […]

Future of manufacturing production, jobs

One benefit of the political debate about trade is that it led to an overdue discussion of manufacturing.

But after more than a year of politicking, I’m afraid there’s still a great deal of confusion about the industry and its future. To help clear things up I’ll begin with a parlor trick.

Pick the year you think manufacturing production peaked in the U.S. or Indiana. Some of you will say 1928, 1945, 1975 and sometimes even 1999.The correct answer, of course, is 2015. Yes, inflation-adjusted manufacturing production peaked both in the U.S. and Indiana in 2015, replacing 2014 as the record […]

Unconditional Basic Income – Guaranteed Livable Income – Citizens’ Income –

Unconditional Basic Income - Guaranteed Livable Income - Citizens' Income -

Basic Income

72 Pins 56 Followers Few debates highlight the many complex issues around how governments should share a nation’s wealth and resources as much as the current discourse on basic income. Also referred to as a citizen’s income, the policy generally refers to the unconditional and universal payment of a regular sum of money to a country’s residents, usually as a replacement for a range of existing state benefits such as pensions, child allowances, tax credits and unemployment payments. Poverty Economystories Economy Poverty Income Basicincome Basic Income Basicincome Economics Unconditional Basic Unconditional Basic Income #basicincome #economics #economy […]