Hillel Steiner. Credit to: Festival 800.
Hillel Steiner, Emeritus Professor of Political Philosophy at the University of Manchester and writing on Know It All says that an unconditional basic income (UBI) funded by land value taxation (LVT) may create consensus among Left and Right political parties.
Steiner, author of the prize-winning book “An Essay on Rights” writes:
“Opportunities to link the demands of justice with those of economic efficiency are rare enough, and it would therefore be a great pity to forgo them when they are found.”
He argues that UBI is a demand for justice because there is no assessment of recipients’ personal circumstances. He also argues that LVT is economically efficient because the levy, unlike property taxes, disregards the value of buildings, personal property and other improvements to the site.
More information at:
Hillel Steiner, “A philosopher’s take on Global Basic Income”, Know It All, July 2017
In point of fact, the only way a universal basic income will benefit all recipients if if the potential annual rental value of locations (or, as is generally described, land value taxation) is publicly collected and distributed as a “citizens dividend.” Otherwise, the increase in individual income will largely end up in the pockets of landlords unless communities construct new affordable housing units, both rental and owner-occupied.