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Finland begins universal basic income experiment

Finland begins universal basic income experiment

Will doling out an unconditional regular basic income encourage people to seek work? A Finnish study will provide the answer

Finland has embarked on a social experiment that may change how nations look at social security in future. Finnish social security agency, Kela, is observing how unemployed people will respond to no-strings-attached monthly cash handouts.

People on unemployment benefits are generally hesitant to take up small time jobs as the benefits are cut back once they start earning. In the nationwide experiment, beneficiaries are free to seek job, start a business or acquire more education without fear of losing […]

Finland pilots radical basic income scheme

Finland pilots radical basic income scheme

World

Critics denounce it as unrealistic, political trick 2-yr income for jobless

Under the 2-year scheme, 2,000 unemployed Finns will get $597 per month Unemployed people often rely on benefits, creating burden on govt. Payments will continue even if they make additional money Helsinki, January 19 A group of unemployed Finns have just become the first Europeans to enjoy a guaranteed basic income; from January a monthly pay cheque has begun arriving from the state, regardless of whether they find work or sit at home on the couch. The basic income idea aims to prepare society for a […]

Could a universal basic income help those heaving countless of unpaid hours into startups?

Could a universal basic income help those heaving countless of unpaid hours into startups?

ADVERTISING I want to talk about how we could all benefit from getting a UBI. No, a UBI is not a contraceptive device or a nasty medical condition.

You may have heard that it is currently being piloted in progressive western democracies including Finland , the Netherlands , Scotland and Canada .

And in the wake of the Centrelink debt recovery debacle , it is now time for Australia to consider trialling a Universal Basic Income (UBI) .Campaigners for an unconditional monthly income argue this would not constitute money for nothing, since over 50% of work is currently unpaid – taking […]

Universal Basic Income Can Be Hugely Disruptive If Not Handled Properly

Universal Basic Income Can Be Hugely Disruptive If Not Handled Properly

Far from the UBI schemes proposed in advanced economies, in India it’s a question of whether the Centre can juggle its finances and find a better way of delivering welfare.

Niti Aayog chief Amitabh Kant. Credit: PTI The idea of offering a universal basic income (UBI) scheme to all of India’s poor citizens was formally articulated by the head of Niti Aayog over the weekend in Davos, where the world business and political elite met to drum up some optimism in an otherwise declining global economy. Amitabh Kant, CEO of Niti Aayog, told CNBC TV18 that providing UBI is […]

Finland pilots radical basic income idea despite feasibility doubts

Finland pilots radical basic income idea despite feasibility doubts

HELSINKI: A group of unemployed Finns have just become the first Europeans to enjoy a guaranteed basic income; from January a monthly pay cheque has begun arriving from the state, regardless of whether they find work or sit at home on the couch.

In its purest form, the basic income idea aims to prepare society for a future when robots and artificial intelligence may replace huge numbers of humans in the workforce. This will allow unwanted workers to lead comfortable and dignified lives while machines create much of the wealth to pay them, supporters argue.

The Finnish scheme has different, less […]

Automation for the People: The Public, Technology and Jobs

Automation for the People: The Public, Technology and Jobs

A 2012 research brief by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee at MIT renewed an old debate over the effect of new technologies on employment levels. They argued that, counter to the prevailing belief that new technologies and automation simply shift jobs into new sectors after a period of disruption, instead rapid improvements in technology over the past decades have left some workers completely behind, a trend that will continue to accelerate as computers capabilities expand. But what does the public think? Do Americans see technological threats to employment, and have their views changed since the days when robots first […]

Impact of job-stealing robots a growing concern at Davos

Impact of job-stealing robots a growing concern at Davos

An attendee communicate with SARA, a socially aware robot assisstant, during a presentation at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 17, 2017. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich By Martinne Geller and Ben Hirschler

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – Open markets and global trade have been blamed for job losses over the last decade, but global CEOs say the real culprits are increasingly machines.

And while business leaders gathered at the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos relish the productivity gains technology can bring, they warned this week that the collateral damage to jobs needs to be addressed […]

Hamiltonians have a say on basic income consultations

Hamiltonians have a say on basic income consultations

Hamilton Spectator

Hamiltonians are taking charge and asking the questions they want answered as part of the province’s basic income pilot project.

Anti-poverty activists, public health officials and community members attended a basic income consultation at Neighbour to Neighbour’s Hamilton Community Food Centre on Thursday night.The gathering started with a panel discussion before moving onto a question-and-answer session and a facilitated consultation."Not a lot of Ontarians wanted to answer the questions (the province) had put out for people," Danielle Boissoneau, community advocacy co-ordinator for Neighbour to Neighbour Centre, told the room of about 40 people. "I hope that tonight you’re going […]

Why Universal Basic Income Should be Paid in Bitcoin

In the last few years, we have seen a boost in interest in universal basic income schemes. The idea for it is not a new nor a radical concept. It first appeared at the beginning of the 16th century in the work of Thomas More, Utopia.

For centuries governments around the world have been exploring the potential of universal basic income in easing the vulnerabilities of working people exposed to threats of transforming the labor market. The recent growing experimentation clearly shows that there is a need to find effective solutions to alleviate the perils of globalization.

Supporters of the idea […]