New articles connect automation with the need for basic income

The automation argument for basic income has reached the New York Times as an article by Farhad Manjoo argues that automation will replace millions of jobs and the best solution might be basic income. This is one of many recent articles around the world making the connection between technological displacement of workers and basic income.

Toby Deller has a slightly different take on automation in an article in Rhinegold Publishing, which has published content aimed at people in the music and performing arts industries since 1976. This article worries that the current state of automation has led increasingly to an insecure gig economy even if it has not decreased the number of available jobs.

Deller writes, “For musicians the benefits are clear. Peripatetic teachers, freelance players, composers, conductors are all among those with quiet periods of the year to negotiate (one of the worst coming at exactly the time that self-assessment tax payments are due). A guaranteed few quid would be a welcome security net. But the UBI would do more than address that. … The truth is that for musicians, for any artist, having to work is not the chief obstacle: it’s not being able to work. The universal basic income promises to lower that obstacle in the most socially responsible way – just one reason why the classical music industry should be joining the debate, lobbying for its introduction.”

Articles mentioned:

Toby Deller, “The arts world should look outside itself and campaign for universal basic income

Farhad Manjoo, “A Plan in Case Robots Take the Jobs: Give Everyone a Paycheck.” New York Times, March 2, 2016

Stuart Goldenberg via the New York Times

Stuart Goldenberg via the New York Times

SCOTLAND: Scottish National Party Conference calls for universal income

SCOTLAND: Scottish National Party Conference calls for universal income

The Scottish National Party (SNP), Scotland’s largest party and the UK’s third largest party, agreed to a motion supporting the introduction of a basic income in Scotland at its spring conference, held on 12-13 March 2016.

The motion, which was submitted for agreement by the Cumbernauld SNP branch, explicitly opposes the UK government’s approach to social security and proposes an alternative formed around the introduction of a basic income. The motion states that the “conference believes that a basic or universal income can potentially provide a foundation to eradicate poverty, make work pay and ensure all our citizens can live in dignity.” Ronnie Cowan MP (SNP) argued that a basic income could “be the flagship policy for a socially just independent country.”

The SNP is not the first group to support the introduction of a basic income this year.

In February 2016, Reform Scotland, an Edinburgh-based free market think tank, published The Basic Income Guarantee. In the report, Reform Scotland argue that the introduction of a basic income guarantee is the best way to resolve fundamental problems with the current social security system in the UK. On the other side of the economic discourse, Common Weal, a Glasgow-based social democratic think tank, is also advocating for the introduction of a basic income as part of the social security system for a newly independent Scotland.

Indeed, interest in a Scottish basic income stretches back even farther, to before the Scottish referendum on independence. In preparation for the possibility of a vote in favour of an independent Scotland, the Scottish government established the Expert Working Group on Welfare to explore possible social security systems. In June 2014, the group stated that, “the case for a Citizen’s Basic Income was prevalent throughout the responses to our Call for Evidence.” Nevertheless, the group went on to conclude that, “we would not recommend the introduction of a [basic income] at this time. However it is an option that could be revisited in the future.”

With a consensus now forming around the basic income idea in Scotland, perhaps the time to revisit this option has come.

Moreover, the SNP’s support for a basic income does not stop at the borders of an independent Scotland: the SNP is also emerging as a key force behind campaigns for a UK basic income. In January 2016, Caroline Lucas MP (Green Party) tabled an Early Day Motion before the UK parliament on the topic of a basic income.

Of the 32 MPs that supported her parliamentary motion, 23 were from the SNP. In light of this development, it could be that the SNP, though championing a progressive vision for an independent Scotland, ultimately succeeds in creating a progressive, unified United Kingdom.

Basic Income on BBC Newshour Extra

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Basic Income was the focus of the March 5 episode of BBC’s Newshour Extra, a weekly podcast hosted by British journalist Owen Bennett Jones.

The episode, entitled “Money For Nothing?”, features a distinguished panel of four experts on the topic: Guy Standing, professor at the University of London and founder of the Basic Income Earth Network; Rutger Bregman, Dutch reporter and author on Basic Income; Francine Mestrum, consultant and researcher at the Université Libre de Bruxelles; and Linda Yueh, former BBC correspondent and current professor of economics at Oxford and the London Business School.

During the panel discussion, Bregman and Standing deliver arguments for a universal basic income (UBI), while Mestrum and Yueh pose critical questions. For example, Mestrum charges that, due to its universality, a UBI would perpetuate inequality rather than promote equality, and Yueh broaches the practical issue of whether a UBI is affordable. This leads to valuable exchanges concerning the financing of a UBI, as well as the question of whether a UBI would replace the welfare state or supplement it – with Standing and Bregman defending the affordability and effectiveness of a UBI.

Other topics of discussion include the recent BI initiatives in Finland and Canada, automation, and the nature of work. The broadcast ends on what seems to be a point of agreement between the four panelists: people are motivated to contribute usefully to society, whether or not they rely on a job for money; thus, if there is any worry about a Basic Income, it is not that it would undermine the incentive to work.

Listen to the entire 50 minute episode here:

BBC World Service, “Money for Nothing?”, Newshour Extra, May 5 2016

UK public service union UNISON starts to look into Basic Income

UK public service union UNISON starts to look into Basic Income

At a recent UNISON Women’s Conference in Brighton, amendments were passed which commit the union to look into Basic Income. The amendments – which were added to motions discussing flexible working, austerity and in-work poverty – instructed the UNISON National Women’s Committee to:

  • investigate the impact of a Universal Basic Income policy on women with caring responsibilities, and publish their findings in the National Women’s Committee 2017 Annual Report;
  • work with the National Executive Council and the Policy Committee to explore the potential of a Universal Basic Income as a more woman-friendly direction for future welfare policy.

Limited resources and other pressing priorities for the union may mean that minimal action is taken at first, but the discussion has begun.

Barb Jacobson, co-ordinator of Basic Income UK, addressed the UNISON West Midlands Regional Council at their February 25th meeting.

The UNISON West Midlands Community branch will submit a motion to the full National Delegate Conference in June 2016, calling for the union to adopt a position in favour of the principle of a Universal Basic Income, and to draft a description of UNISON’s preferred version of a Basic Income policy.

UNISON is a trade union for people working in public services, including those outsourced to the private sector. With 1.3 million members, in more than 1000 branches across the UK, it is one of Europe’s largest unions. Over 70% of UNISON members are women.


Photo CC Wikimedia Commons

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United Kingdom: Labour Party considers universal basic income

United Kingdom: Labour Party considers universal basic income

John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor of the Labour Party, has said that the party wants to look at the idea of universal basic income, according to an article in the Independent.

In a public lecture at the London School of Economics on 16th February, McDonnell stated:

It [a universal basic income] is an idea we want to look at. Child benefit was a form of basic income so it’s not something that I would rule out.

McDonnell has been known as a supporter of a universal basic income, but this is the first occasion he has introduced the idea in public since becoming shadow chancellor.

Credit picture CC Don Shall