This post serves as a firsthand account of the precarious labor market in the United States at the moment. One of the solutions proposed is a universal basic income.
Saul of Hearts, “Why It’s Time to Phase Money Out of My Life”, Medium, 9 July 2015.
Santens dives into the modern discussion on productivity and automation, showing that while automation has increasingly replaced human labor, those in work are on such low wages that they need to work well over 40 hours per week as a matter of survival. While many argue that technology replaces jobs but also creates new ones, Santens claims that this is not a one to one relationship and that the newly created jobs are rarely as stable as the ones being replaced. In sum, Santens believes that a basic income is the best way to fix this paradox of automation and productivity.
Scott Santens, “Our Paradoxical Economy Courtesy of Technology and the Lack of Basic Income”, Huffington Post, 9 July 2015.
Schiller’s article serves largely as a summary for Martin Ford’s 2015 book Rise of the Robots, in which Ford argues that this time ‘really is different’ when it comes to technological automation’s effects on future labor markets. Technological automation looks set to alter higher education and health care, as well as many other areas usually considered human labor-dependent. Schiller and Ford both recommend a basic income guarantee as a protection for humans as we enter a future where there are simply not enough jobs available.
Ben Schiller, “Yes, Robots Really Are Going To Take Your Job And End The American Dream”, Co.Exist, 19 May 2015.
Four-term Mayor Don Atchison of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, believes that the upcoming election could be a great time to discuss a basic income guarantee. He joins the mayors of Edmonton and Calgary in recently discussing the possibility of a basic income guarantee in Canada.
Roderick Benns, “Federal election would be a great time to have a discussion about basic income, says Saskatoon mayor”, Leaders and Legacies, 9 July 2015.
Schiller writes on the future of automation in the driving industry and how truck drivers may prove surplus to requirements in the coming half-century. Schiller refers to Scott Santens who has written on the topic, noting that a universal basic income could help ease this automation transition.
Ben Schiller, “Why Truck Drivers Could Be The First Casualties Of The Robot Age”, Co.Exist, 6 July 2015.
