Universal basic income: be careful what you wish for

Universal basic income: be careful what you wish for

Opinion: Any universal basic income NZ implements would likely be far too low. Adapting what we already have in place is a much safer approach, writes Susan St John. The Covid-19 economic recession is intensifying the vast inequalities in income and wealth evident both locally and internationally. As jobs disappear and wage subsidies run out, many commentators argue it is the perfect time to introduce a Universal Basic Income (UBI).

The idea is to replace the mishmash of hard-to-access, highly means-tested or targeted benefits with a simple unconditional individual weekly payment for all. Sounds so simple and appealing.

Less understood, is […]

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