by Josh Martin | Sep 5, 2015 | News
The movement for a basic income guarantee in Canada gained further support as 178 Canadian physicians have signed a letter delivered to Ontario’s Minister of Health that states their support for a basic income. Current health issues in Canada clearly show links between income level and health outcomes, and these physicians believe that a basic income could reduce toxic stress and lead to improved health outcomes. This support continues the Canadian movement for a basic income that has made the news in Prince Edward Island as well as in Edmonton and Calgary.
To read the letter and to learn more about the health reasons for a basic income, click on the following link:
“A basic income guarantee may be the best medicine”, Upstream, 17 August 2015.
by Josh Martin | Sep 5, 2015 | Research
This task force report on democracy, economic security, and social justice in a volatile world considers three promising democratic innovations, among which is the formulation of economic citizenship. Among the suggested routes to achieve economic citizenship was the implementation of a universal basic income scheme.
American Political Science Association, “Democratic Imperatives: Innovations in Rights, Participation, and Economic Citizenship: Report of the Task Force on Democracy, Economic Security, and Social Justice in a Volatile World”, April 2012.
by Josh Martin | Sep 4, 2015 | News
Santens article eloquently discusses a recent report by David Autor of MIT on the history and future of work, highlighting realities that may not be common knowledge. For instance, low-income jobs have consistently grown throughout the past forty years, but there has been an erosion of middle-class, manufacturing jobs and a slowing of high-skilled, high-paying jobs. When academics claim technology creates jobs as much as it eliminates them, they often ignore the fact that these jobs often are low-quality work that leaves people worse off. Further, Santens cites the Oxford study that found that 47% of jobs are at high risk of automation in the next two decades. Those low-income jobs may shrivel up as well. Considering all of this information, Santens implores policy-makers to consider a basic income as a means to combat the future of technological unemployment.
Scott Santens, “Everything You Think You Know About The History and Future of Jobs Is Likely Wrong” 19 August 2015.
by Josh Martin | Sep 3, 2015 | News
Citi’s Chief Economist, Willem Buiter, has written in support of enacting some basic income guarantee in order to protect individuals from technological changes that are transforming the labor market.
Kif Leswing, “Citi’s Chief Economist Recommends a Universal Basic Income”, Futurism, 22 August 2015.
by Josh Martin | Sep 2, 2015 | News
Gilbert supports Jeremy Corbyn for the UK Labour Party’s leadership election, but he worries that Corbyn’s economic plan largely ignores the past thirty years of technological change that makes 1980s policies less applicable today. Gilbert then proposes ten forward-looking policies he suggests Corbyn adopts, among which is to bring forward plans for a universal basic income.
Jeremy Gilbert, “A 10-Point Programme for 21st Century Socialism“, Novara Wire, 8 August 2015.
