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About Basic Income

Universal Basic Income, also known as “basic income,” “guaranteed minimum income,” and “negative income tax,” is a way to eliminate poverty completely and thoroughly, once and for all!

A universal basic income would be an income that would be given to all members of society every month regardless of any other factor in their life. The amount would not be extravagant but it would be enough to provide the basics necessary for life. In the United States this would be something like $1500 per month.

A large portion of the money would come from currently existing welfare programs like SNAP, TANF, […]

Research team recommends expansion of basic income experiment in 2018

The first stage of the Finnish basic income experiment will be launched at the beginning of 2017. The team of researchers who explored various alternatives for implementing the experiment hopes to see the experiment continue after the initial stage.

According to Olli Kangas of Kela, who led the team, the model which will be investigated in 2017 should be seen as the first step in a series of experiments testing various types of basic income.

A total of 2,000 persons between ages 25 and 58 who are paid unemployment benefits paid by Kela will participate in the first stage. The […]

Lost your gig to a robot? Here’s a check to help you get by

Lost your gig to a robot? Here's a check to help you get by

"Don’t slam the door on your way out, man." A robot ate my job and all I got was this lousy welfare check.

A new survey says nearly half of Americans are OK with the idea of a "universal basic income," a monthly payment that could be funded by tax revenues and used as a safety net against job loss caused by, among other things, automation, artificial intelligence and similar tech developments .

Celebrated personalities such as Bill Gates and Stephen Hawking have expressed concern over the possibility of such job loss , and one researcher has forecast that 6 percent […]

UK manufacturing industry recorded the most job losses last year

The study measured job creation across 69 different sectors, with manufacturing making up three of the worst five areas for percentage change in employment numbers last year.

The manufacture of chemicals saw a 12.9% decrease in employment numbers to 88,000 from 101,000 and came last out of the 69 sectors.

Meanwhile, the manufacture of computers experienced an 11.5% decrease in jobs followed by the manufacture of pharmaceutical, which saw a 9.8% decrease.According to UHY, the fall in employment numbers in the manufacturing industry is due to the ongoing shift in manufacturing to countries where labour costs are lower.The rise of technological […]

Carrier deal does not carry the day for American workers

Carrier deal does not carry the day for American workers

The recent deal struck by President-elect Donald Trump with Carrier to retain many hundreds of jobs in Indiana rather than moving them to Mexico was an attempt by Trump to deliver on a campaign promise to bring back American jobs. Despite the good intentions behind this move, and the obvious relief of the workers who would benefit, it is unlikely to be the model for restoring U.S. jobs in manufacturing or other sectors on a large scale.

The problem Trump is attempting to address is all too apparent. The forces of globalization and technological change have hollowed out the middle […]

The precariat, populism and robots: is basic income a political imperative?

The precariat, populism and robots: is basic income a political imperative?

Protestors in Zurich demand a restructuring of the welfare state In the previous two articles in this series, the precariat was depicted as the emerging mass class , experiencing falling real wages, chronic economic insecurity and growing anger, in a context best described as rentier capitalism , rather than free-market capitalism. Revolt is in the air, and is justified, even if we may detest the forms it is taking, because the system is "rigged" excessively in favour of the rentiers, those who earn income from property, physical, financial or intellectual.

What is to be done? The starting point – elaborated […]

Manufacturing is well, but jobs are not

Manufacturing is well, but jobs are not

Manufacturing is well, but jobs are not 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 US 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 […]

Time For A Universal Basic Income?

Time For A Universal Basic Income?

By Pedro Sousa

* This article was originally published by the Australian Institute of International Affairs .

The concept of a universal basic income has received renewed attention in 2016 . The general frustration with mainstream politics and the finance sector—manifested in the Brexit and US election votes—is indicative of the view that the economic system in the West is deficient. Inequality is growing, welfare costs are increasing, and technological disruption is escalating; prompting some to warm to the idea of a guaranteed basic income for everyone. The technological revolution and the resulting digital economy are driving the increasing […]

Support for Universal Basic Income High as Test Cases Loom

Support for Universal Basic Income High as Test Cases Loom

CEOs could soon have a lot less staff to manage, whether they like it or not.

universal basic income A new survey indicates the once pie-in-the-sky notion of paying all citizens regularly for doing absolutely nothing is gaining traction in America, amid rising voter concerns about income inequality and the threat to people’s jobs posed by robots.

The poll of 500 Americans found that 46% supported the introduction of a so-called universal basic income, or UBI. Just 35% opposed the idea, while 19% were undecided.The survey was commissioned by a collective of nonprofit, political and technology organizations including Bloomberg-backed […]

2,000 selected for compulsory basic income trial – names to be revealed in late December

2,000 selected for compulsory basic income trial - names to be revealed in late December

Image: Ismo Pekkarinen / AOP The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, better known as Kela, has randomly chosen 2,000 unemployed persons as a random sample to participate in a basic income trial. The selected candidates will be informed on December 28, and participation in the pilot is compulsory.

Once the trial begins, recipients of the basic income will have to give up their basic unemployment allowance or labour market subsidy, but the basic income will not affect other benefits.

Officials are hoping that participants in the trial will be motivated to find temporary or part-time work. However they will also be […]