The group studying the desirability and feasibility of a Basic Income pilot project in Scotland has published its final report.
“PARTNERS involved in exploring the feasibility of a Citizens’ Basic Income (CBI) pilot in Scotland have completed the draft final report on their findings. The report concludes a CBI pilot is desirable, but recognises the significant challenges involved. … “
To read the report, click here.
An article from the BBC about the feasibility study can be found here.
Further analysis of the report will follow soon from BIEN’s affiliate, Citizen’s Basic Income Scotland.
I do not accept that “pilots” of basic income can have any worthwhile conclusions, and the only benefit is to the social scientists involved.
The purpose of a Universal or Citzen’s (if you prefer) Benefit is simple and obvious, the elimination of poverty and insecurity, and depending on the level set it can be a tool to reduce inequality.
Considering the eons of time that have brought us to our present state, the results of a removing insecurity and poverty will only be seen in the long term. We implement it if we think it is the right thing to do now.
“Pilots” and “experiments” can tell us nothing of value, and demean those subject to them, as if they were rats in a drug trial.
No “worthwhile conclusions”? Do you mean that conclusions can be drawn, but they lack merit? And does that verdict apply only to UBI-pilots or to the technique itself? Next, does not a test, or measure or ‘pilot’ of the “tool” provide actionable insight to the tool’s efficacy? (Your para 2 refers) Finally, your last paragraph reminds me of Galileo’s inquisition – I hadn’t appreciated such views still exist.
Totally agree with you!
Could it be that Scotland could establish a BI independently of what the UK government thinks (and it is pretty evident what it thinks) if it wants to without further ado? People (and governments) are not actually banned from giving money to others. The Scottish have limited devolved powers to alter their tax structure. So why not alter the tax structure to produce additional revenues towards the devolved limits and share those higher revenues equally in the form of (limited) gifts?
Where are the technical difficulties? For instance, if it is argued (as it is often argued in the context of BI) that the Scottish government does not have a complete individualized list of its citizens and their individual bank account numbers just start dispensing the gifts to those that it does have details of and watch people rush to open the necessary accounts and clamour to get their names on the list.
A good start on a BI is thus easily made (without the fuss and bother and expense and inevitable inconclusiveness of pilots) and the details of how the BI-by-gift system interacts with the welfare and tax systems can be worked out later. As with all developments, one must, at some juncture, overcome status quo induced inertia by making a start somewhere. And, as Covid-19 will loom over us all for some time yet, there is time to call the gifts a temporary, pandemic coping measure and cancel everything when, and if, the disease is conquered.
It’s time the whole UK had a Basic Income. Universal Credit is killing people. The Tories don’t care. The best thing about Coronavirus is that the Jobcentres have been closed, keep it that way, close the dreadful places for ever.
I am a person with a significant disability and have always relied on some level of State support when unemployed, employed and now retired. It does not seem to be well understood by people who have not had to jump through all the demeaning hoops and hurdles of claiming these means tested benefits that the main difference a UBI will make is the security and dignity it will bring. No one will be greatly better off and therefore all the fears that are thrown at us, even from the ‘left’ that it will lead to inflation or wage reductions just won’t happen. What will happen is that hungry people will be able to feed themselves and their children however dire the economy becomes. Admin could be easy as it could be deemed a universal entitlement, but you need to aply for it, thus giving the relevant Gov all the information they need. Some wealthy people will not apply for it – better still. It must happen. Already 2.8 million claimants of UC in the UK.