[Josh Martin]
In this opinion piece in an Indian newspaper, Guy Standing, who was one of the driving architects behind the Indian basic income pilot projects in the past few years, argues for a basic income as a better alternative to the large subsidies in place that are aimed to help those in poverty buy goods at discounted prices. Standing points out the inefficiencies of the subsidy programs and then promotes the three main effects of the basic income: it improves personal and community welfare, stimulates growth, and harbors an emancipatory value that boosts the other two effects.
Guy Standing, “Cash transfers can work better than subsidies”, The Hindu, 6 December 2014.
necessary?“The Public Distribution System acts as a deterrent to local food production.” Picture shows a woman showing her ration card to purchase subsidised rice in Rayagada, Odisha.— Photo: AP (Source: The Hindu)
