In this article, in the Turkish Internet journal called Mavi Defter, Yuksel Akkaya argues that basic income is seen as a method to fight against capitalism and poverty. This article is the first in the series of three. Basic income is something that questions the value of capitalism and can be seen in the light of income of citizenship. Akkaya further explores how basic income could be seen as a counter attack of current social welfare system. Coming from that point, he divides the social welfare into three historical waves. The first wave occurred in Germany, at the end of the nineteenth century, when workers’ union emerged as a functional unit by creating an insurance system. The second wave came into existence in the United Kingdom as a Beveridge model, after the end of the World War II. This era saw the creation of welfare system that became financed through taxation. Finally, basic income has a big potential of becoming a third important, historical wave. However, the author writes that basic income is something that is beyond the social welfare system. Many want to shape it as a political entity that works against the rules of capitalism. Basic income reminds Akkaya of Grendrisse of Karl Marx. The reason for such a conclusion, argues the author, is the way basic income functions. Basic income finances population not according to the amount of work one does, but according to the total production of a nation. Is that possible? The author tries to answer this question in his next article.
Akkaya, Y. (2012, June 18). Temel gelir versus capitalism (mi?) I is online at:
https://www.mavidefter.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54:temel-gelir-versus-kapitalizm-mi-i-&catid=58:yukselakkaya&Itemid=96
