by Josh Martin | Feb 18, 2015 | News
Santens writes extensively on the question of what motivates us to work and whether or not anybody today can work for reasons other than for survival. He outlines three choices: working for others, working for ourselves, or doing zero work. Santens argues that under the current system only the first option is possible, but that with a basic income people could finally reach option two or three.
Scott Santens, “If we no longer force people to work to meet their basic needs, won’t they stop working?”, Scott Santens, 27 January 2015.
by Josh Martin | Feb 17, 2015 | News
Santens analyzes the current US welfare system and discusses the benefits of switching to a basic income of $12,000 for adults and $4,000 for children. Utilizing the case study of a single parent with two kids, Santens considers multiple cases of different income levels, and on each one the basic income will leave the household better off, even with a 40 percent flat tax, which Santens also recommends. He settles on the $12k/4k plan partially due to the face that a single parent with two kids and no labor market income currently receives $20,000 from all of the cash replaceable benefits (not Medicaid, childcare, or CHIP benefits).
Scott Santens, “Will Replacing Current Benefits With Cash Tomorrow Leave Today’s Recipients Better or Worse Off?”, Scott Santens, 18 December 2014.
by Josh Martin | Feb 15, 2015 | News
Writing from New Zealand, Simmons writes on ten types of people who would especially benefit from a basic income: one income families, caregivers and volunteers, beneficiaries, students, the working poor, people without children, welfare organizations, anyone on infrequent income, anyone chasing their dream, and taxpayers.
Geoff Simmons, “Ten Types of People Who Would be Better Off with an Unconditional Basic Income”, Gareth’s World, 21 January 2015.
by Josh Martin | Feb 15, 2015 | News
Natalie Bennett, leader of the recently resurgent UK Green party, spoke at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) on Friday to a packed room of 100 or more students. She began by giving a half hour stump speech covering a number of the Green party’s major policies, including proposing a living wage, stopping tax inversion, being smarter with food production, and addressing the issues surrounding the environment. In this monologue she also spent a few minutes outlining the value of a universal basic income. During her time discussing the basic income, she outlined its ability to free people from undesirable jobs and labeled it a long-term plan of the Green party.
After her policy speech, she took questions from the audience for another 45 minutes. I (Josh Martin) am a Masters student at LSE, and I was able to ask the very first question to her. I first mentioned the Patrick Wintour article in the Guardian that mistakenly conflated the Citizen’s Income Trust’s revenue neutral basic income scheme with the Green party’s plan for a basic income, and then asked whether or not she would, in fact, prefer a revenue neutral scheme or one set at a higher level that would probably require increased taxes or another form of funding. In response, she first reiterated the Green party’s policymaking process where any members can put forward policy proposals, so she is not solely responsible for Green party policy. She thus was unable to directly answer my question, but she noted that a Green party basic income costing scheme will be published in March for consultants to revise. However, she stated that the basic income will not be a part of their 2015 election manifesto; she did not see it as a part of the Green party’s five year plan, but rather as a longer-term policy.
Due to the Wintour article and the other negative press that surrounded the UK Green party’s support of a basic income in recent weeks, it was refreshing to hear Bennett discuss the basic income unprompted in her brief policy speech. Even though the Greens will not include the basic income in their manifesto this year, it seems they still support it seriously enough to develop a costing plan this year.
by Josh Martin | Feb 14, 2015 | News
Originally written in Polish, Szlinder interviews Daniel Raventós, President of Red Renta Básica (The Spanish Basic Income Network) about the history of the basic income movement in Spain as well as its recent resurgence with Podemos. Further, he discusses region specific ideas in Catalonia, and different fractions within basic income supporters.
Maciej Szlinder, “Basic Income in the Spotlight in Spain: Interview with Daniel Raventós”, Praktyka Teoretyczna, 30 October 2014.
