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Part 3 of a series. To those who have, more shall be given. Cities get more investment. From those who have little, more shall be taken. Small towns are finding that they are excluded from the excitement happening everywhere else and little investment goes their way.

The idea of capitalism – that goods should bear market prices, that justly acquired property is yours, and exchange between willing participants be free of encumbrances – is everywhere under threat.

There is, however, little policy difference between the extreme-left and extreme-right populist response. Both demand a remarkably statist approach to government, and both are […]

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Sooner, rather than later, many jobs could be wiped out and we will all need to be paid a basic income from the state to survive, according to the growing noise from influential business leaders, global organisations and activists.

Elon Musk, the outspoken entrepreneur behind Tesla’s electric (and semi-autonomous) cars, is the latest high-profile futurist to proclaim that automated, artificial intelligence and robotics mean that the provision of a universal basic income by the state is the inevitable and ‘reasonable’ way forward.

In essence, this could mean a fixed, regular payment to all citizens, no matter whether or not they had […]

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The idea of a universal basic income (UBI) is rising in popularity in India , where it is often seen as a way to streamline and expedite the distribution of aid to the poor, avoiding the corruption and wastefulness that plague current social welfare programs.

In a recent article for LiveMint , the economist Himanshu (Associate Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University) contrasts this view of UBI with its perception in developed nations that enjoy mature welfare states, such as the Nordic countries. Himanshu contends that developing nations are more likely view UBI as substitute instead of a supplement to existing […]

Full Post at basicincome.org

In my last column , "How Trump Can Save American Democracy," I wrote of the importance of finding creative, forward-looking solutions to the unemployment problem in America, specifically of rural Middle America, that has been most affected by economic decline and deindustrialization . I stressed that this is paramount to directing the course of American society towards positive change and calming the currents of nativism that have been arising. I suggested that if Trump is to succeed in fulfilling the unattended needs of his core constituency, he must not rely on bringing back industry or trying to create new […]

Full Post at www.jpost.com

By: Leong Sze Hian

I refer to the editorial article “ A universal basic income: the answer to poverty, insecurity, and health inequality? ” (British Medical Journal, Dec 12).

It states that “For four years in the mid-1970s an unusual experiment took place in the small Canadian town of Dauphin. Statistically significant benefits for those who took part included fewer physician contacts related to mental health and fewer hospital admissions for “accident and injury.”Mental health diagnoses in Dauphin also fell. Once the experiment ended, these public health benefits evaporated. 1 What was the treatment being tested? It was what has become […]

Full Post at theindependent.sg

In my last column , "How Trump Can Save American Democracy," I wrote of the importance of finding creative, forward-looking solutions to the unemployment problem in America, specifically of rural Middle America, that has been most affected by economic decline and deindustrialization . I stressed that this is paramount to directing the course of American society towards positive change and calming the currents of nativism that have been arising. I suggested that if Trump is to succeed in fulfilling the unattended needs of his core constituency, he must not rely on bringing back industry or trying to create new […]

Full Post at www.jpost.com

Video thumbnail, How can a West Midlands mayor create more good jobs? A leading trade union wants the West Midlands’ first elected mayor to trial a ‘Universal Basic Income’ as society faces the prospect of robots replacing workers.

In a 20-point manifesto, Unison also called for the building of genuinely affordable housing, fair public transport fares and English language lessons for new arrivals.

It also said the new mayor should nationalise the M6 Toll, and provide free public transport for 16-19 year-olds in education.The region’s largest public sector trade union, whose members include health service and council staff, issued its manifesto […]

Full Post at www.birminghammail.co.uk