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Letter: Exclusionary policies will hurt American workers

Letter: Exclusionary policies will hurt American workers

Many working-class Americans have felt abandoned by a government more focused on identity politics than the fact that their real wages have been stagnant for decades. Thirty-four percent of adults have no savings. Unfortunately, new trade and economic policies of exclusion will not help.

Five million American jobs depend on trade with Mexico. Largely as a result of Donald Trump’s candidacy and election, the peso has been devaluated five times since 2016.

The loss of manufacturing jobs is more a product of automation than trade policy. Since the 2009 economic recovery, 88 percent of these jobs require more than a high […]

Indian government survey says universal basic income could combat poverty

Indian government survey says universal basic income could combat poverty

The Indian government has endorsed universal basic income (UBI) in an annual report.

UBI is a “powerful idea” and would be more effective at combating poverty than existing state benefits, according to the country’s 2016-2017 Economic Survey.

However if it were implemented now political challenges could "derail" UBI before it got off the ground, the survey found, suggesting the country is not yet ready for the scheme.The introduction of UBI is not expected to be announced in the Union Budget, which will be delivered in Parliament by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday, but it could be tabled for discussion in […]

One income for all: far-fetched, or future fact?

One income for all: far-fetched, or future fact?

As technology-driven changes like Honda’s robot Asimo redefine society’s understanding of work, some are looking at a "universal basic income" as the way forward PARIS —

It is a utopian idea, literally, but is enjoying a renaissance as politicians and policy wonks grapple with technology-driven changes that could redefine our very understanding of work.

If robots and machine intelligence threaten to render many white-collar jobs obsolete, then what will people do for money?Enter the concept of a “universal basic income”, a flat sum paid to all regardless of your existing wealth or ability to work. It is one of the rare […]

Universal Basic Income: Far-Fetched or Inevitable?

Sci-Tech & Health

Editor’s Note: Automation is coming, and it’s going to drastically reduce the amount of labor needed for society to function. This will result in many people – particularly unskilled workers – being out of work and having very little to do. This could have many negative ramifications, such as increased crime, substance abuse, and so forth. While I’m still apprehensive about UBI, we need to be prepared for automation and its consequences.

It is a utopian idea, literally, but is enjoying a renaissance as politicians and policy wonks grapple with technology-driven changes that could redefine […]

Why a Universal Basic Income Can Address Historic, Gender and Material Inequities

Why a Universal Basic Income Can Address Historic, Gender and Material Inequities

A sign asks for volunteers in the clean-up effort after Superstorm Sandy slammed into parts of New York and New Jersey, leaving thousands without homes, power and heat. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

It’s difficult to deny the attractive qualities a Universal Basic Income (UBI) holds. A radical policy such as this could right many of the inequalities that exist in our societies, says Eva Cox, a former program director of Social Inquiry at the University of Technology, Sydney.

“Brought together, it is clear that a Universal Basic Income (UBI), if implemented appropriately, could help address historic gender, race and material […]

The Future of Manufacturing – Big or Small?

The Future of Manufacturing – Big or Small?

Bruce Morey Contributing Editor Taking stock of a surprising and challenging 2016, a number of trends may point to a future where manufacturing output increases while continuing to decentralize. This may give hope to a surprising future of a distributed economy that begins to erode the monolithic big manufacturing we have taken for granted.

One of the major themes of the surprising political campaigns of 2016 was the loss of manufacturing employment in North America in recent decades. That fact alone is undeniable, according to statistics from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The cause of this decline apparently […]

WhyArun Jaitley gave universal basic income a miss in Union Budget 2017

New Delhi: Indian politics currently lacks the maturity to give up subsidies for the greater goal of a universal basic income, finance minister Arun Jaitley said.

In an interview with DD News after presenting the Union budget for 2017-18, Jaitley said the country cannot afford to offer both subsidies and universal basic income. The Economic Survey presented in the Parliament on Tuesday had pitched the idea of a universal basic income.

“I think the Universal Basic Income is a wonderful idea. The Economic Survey is one of the best drafted documents I have ever read. (Chief economic adviser) Arvind Subramanian has […]

India says it’s time to seriously consider universal basic income

India says it’s time to seriously consider universal basic income

Refugees in India receive cash assistance (Credit: European Commission / Flickr) In a world of rising inequality and automation, the idea of a universal basic income is gaining momentum, from the most developed countries to some of the poorest. Finland made headlines when it launched a trial at the start of the year, and France’s left-wing presidential contender Benoît Hamon included it in his platform. Now, India’s chief economic adviser says it’s time for “serious public deliberation.”

“[Ghandi] would have been conflicted by the idea but, on balance, might have endorsed it,” Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian wrote in the […]

Union Budget 2017: FMCG players pin hopes on rural sops, tax cut

Union Budget 2017: FMCG players pin hopes on rural sops, tax cut

Government’s move to enhance rural spending through welfare schemes like MGNREGA and reduction in tax rate on basic income slab would help drive demand for products, say leading FMCG firms. (Source: IE) Government’s move to enhance rural spending through welfare schemes like MGNREGA and reduction in tax rate on basic income slab would help drive demand for products, say leading FMCG firms. Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL) Managing Director Vivek Gambhir said that reduction in tax slab would leave more money with the consumer to spend and would increase the demand.

“It is largely positive for the FMCG sector, given […]

The Guardian view on basic income: a worthwhile debate, not yet a policy

The Guardian view on basic income: a worthwhile debate, not yet a policy

For centuries, the idea of a universal basic income – a regular sum paid to all citizens or residents whether or not they are in work – has lit up the eyes of political philosophers. It has long been favoured on the political fringes, appealing to the radical left for its supposed compatibility with a zero-growth world and its reward for caring, and to the libertarian right as a way of rolling back the state. But in the last couple of years, the basic income has suddenly forged a path from academic seminar room to on-the-ground trials. Here in […]