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Robot efficiency makes case for workplace automation

Robot efficiency makes case for workplace automation

According to an Oxford University and the Oxford Martin School study, 47% of jobs in the US are ‘at risk’ of being automated in the next 20 years. A robot arm carries a glass part in the assembly line of a factory. Picture: AFP

It’s hard to argue against automation when statistics are clearly illustrating its potential. The latest evidence comes out of a Chinese factory in Dongguan City. The factory recently replaced 90% of its human workforce with machines, and it led to a staggering 250% increase in productivity and a significant 80% drop in defects.

THE […]

Economists Are Not Very Enthusiastic About The Idea Of A Universal Basic Income

Economists Are Not Very Enthusiastic About The Idea Of A Universal Basic Income

These days, all kinds of sensible and brilliant people, from Elon Musk to the prime minister of Finland , are voicing support for universal basic income . The idea of giving everyone—or at least some people—enough to lift them out of poverty without having to work some menial job is very of the moment. Executives like Musk are asked about it all the time, and executives like Musk generally think it’s a good call; the tech elite are some of the idea’s most enthusiastic supporters.

But among economists—who presumably would need to be on board if a basic income were […]

Basic Income as a Neoliberal Weapon

Basic Income as a Neoliberal Weapon

A large poster in a square in Geneva, Switzerland, promoting the idea of a universal basic income | Photo: Reuters There are a wide range of notions of what a BI system might look like. Devotees of free market capitalism have their own vision.

In April of this year, the Ontario government is expected to release details of a pilot project that will study the effects of a very limited and rather dubious attempt at Basic Income or BI. As with similar experiments in Finland and the Netherlands, nothing approaching a universal payment will be put in place. Rather, a […]

Are Robots Coming for Your Job?

“Humans,” a drama about people collaborating with robots referred to as “synths,” launched its second season on AMC Feb. 13.

Curiosity, uncertainty and apprehension of the coming age of robots underlie the science fiction series . Similar sentiments were seen in a campaign against the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s former pick for labor secretary, Andrew Puzder, who withdrew his controversial nomination Feb. 15.

The campaign featured robot characters whose catchphrase is: “We’re coming for your job.” The tagline was in response to Puzder’s previous statements expressing a preference for robots and automation over human workers. The former nominee and CEO […]

Can Trump bring back U.S. manufacturing jobs?

Candidate and now President Donald Trump has talked a lot about bringing well-paying manufacturing jobs back to the United States. As Trump sees it, the manufacturing sector in the U.S., once the standard-bearer that others sought to emulate, has now been brought to its knees with massive job losses. What and who are to blame for this saturnine state of affairs? The “what” is explained by international trade and the one-sided trade deals that feckless U.S. leaders have negotiated in the past. The “who” is still unclear, but it looks like it is nations like China and Mexico.

To remedy […]

The robot that takes your job should pay taxes, says Bill Gates

The robot that takes your job should pay taxes, says Bill Gates

Your browser does not support HTML5 video. Robots are taking human jobs. But Bill Gates believes that governments should tax companies’ use of them, as a way to at least temporarily slow the spread of automation and to fund other types of employment.

It’s a striking position from the world’s richest man and a self-described techno-optimist who co-founded Microsoft, one of the leading players in artificial-intelligence technology.

In a recent interview with Quartz, Gates said that a robot tax could finance jobs taking care of elderly people or working with kids in schools, for which needs are unmet and to which […]

Interview: The Automation Boom in Mexico

Interview: The Automation Boom in Mexico

Jeff Burnstein, President of A3, says Mexico may be the next global player in the automation arena, but the international skills gap could be problematic.

An assembly worker builds automation equipment at Festo’s new facility, which is strategically located to ship parts anywhere in North America, specifically to Mexico. Last year proved record-setting for robotics in terms of orders and shipments in North America, according to the Robotic Industries Association (RIA). A total of 34,606 robots valued at approximately $1.9 billion were ordered in North America—a 10% jump from 2015. Orders for robots spiked 61% in assembly applications […]

A socialist case against Basic Income Guarantee

The concept of a basic income guarantee (BIG) has gained increasing traction on the left in recent years, for example being adopted as union policy by GMB and UNITE , being a manifesto commitment of the Green Party , and supported by John Mcdonnell , the shadow chancellor.

The concept is hardly new, with subsidized grain for plebian citizens being introduced by the populist Tribune, Gaius Gracchus in 123 BC. Indeed, as one of the currently touted arguments for a citizen income is founded on the idea that automation is creating a sub class of those permanently excluded from work, […]

A universal basic income in India?

from Jayati Ghosh

There is a lot of buzz globally around the idea of a Universal Basic Income (or UBI). It is perceived as one way of coping with technology-induced unemployment that is projected to grow significantly in the near future, as well as reducing inequalities and increasing consumption demand in stagnant economies. Certainly there is much to be said for the idea, especially if it is to be achieved by taxing the rich and particularly those activities that are either socially less desirable or are generating larger surpluses because of technological changes.

Indeed, that is precisely the proposal of […]

Basic Income Guarentee

The trouble with UBI and variations of it like BIG is that it makes it too easy for 4 people to get together and share a house or apartment and live comfortably without working. 4 x $15000 = $60K which is quite comfortable (although not luxurious) for a household of 4.

A universal jobs program wouldn’t have that perverse incentive. It would be much less expensive because far fewer people would sign up for it, some people could leverage their work experience in the program into getting private sector jobs, and taxpayers would get back some value from […]