Elizabeth Edgett, “Unconditional Basic Income – an Economic Model for a New Renaissance”

by | Dec 21, 2014 | Research

[Josh Martin]

Edgett’s article provides an introduction to the unconditional basic income.  By eliciting arguments on robots and automation, Edgett believes the basic income can solve many of the problems society will face in the next 100 years.  Edgett then discusses the economic repercussions and subsequent “renaissance of human creativity” from the implementation of a basic income.

Elizabeth Edgett, “Unconditional Basic Income – an Economic Model for a New Renaissance”, Wake Up World, 24 November 2014.

(Source: Wake Up World)

(Source: Wake Up World)

Scott Santens, “Payday Loan Lenders Are Unstoppable. . . Or Are They?”

by | Dec 20, 2014 | Research

[Josh Martin]

Utilizing the momentum against payday loan lenders generated by HBO’s John Oliver, Santens takes the opportunity to highlight the basic income’s impact on indebtedness. Using results from the basic income pilot projects in India and Namibia, Santens shows how effective the unconditional transfer is at combating indebtedness. There are a lot of quick payday loans you can apply for if you are looking for some extra money or quick cash during a financial emergency. If you’re looking to apply for a loan or just see what rates you could be looking at, start looking into payday loans and see how they could bide you over until payday.

However, for those with a low income this can be a slippery slope that leads to what seems to be inescapable debt. Someone who has a steady income can easily pay back a payday loan within a month or 2 of them getting it. They simply use the extra money to pay for whatever it was needed for and then have no issue paying it back within the necessary time.

However, it isn’t this easy for those with the lower or unstable incomes. If they take out a payday loan then they may not have the money they need to pay the loan company back which leads to late-payment fees or higher rates; pushing them even further into debt. Luckily, they can look for a payday loan consolidation service for them to help get them out of the poisonous cycle.

Scott Santens, “Payday Loan Lenders Are Unstoppable. . . Or Are They?”, Medium, 16 August 2014.

Nick Barlow, “Liberal Democrats for Basic Income, anyone?”

by | Dec 18, 2014 | Research

[Josh Martin]

Barlow discusses the reasons why the Liberal Democrats in the UK should include the Citizen’s Income, also known as the basic income, in its party manifesto.  In fact, the Liberal Democrats had it in their manifesto from 1992 to 1994, and Barlow hopes to encourage other Liberal Democrats to support it once again.

Nick Barlow, “Liberal Democrats for Basic Income, anyone?”, What You Can Get Away With, 2 December 2014.

(Source: What You Can Get Away With)

(Source: What You Can Get Away With)

Sam Becker, “Is it Time to Consider a Basic Income?”

by | Dec 18, 2014 | Research

[Josh Martin]

Becker’s post serves as an introduction to the basic income for those who are unfamiliar with it.  He begins by noting Thomas Paine’s support for such a policy and then argues that it could be a good policy for America due to its ability to fight poverty and inequality.  While politically unfeasible at the moment, Becker claims that this idea needs to be discussed as a policy option.

Sam Becker, “Is it Time to Consider a Basic Income?”, Wall St. Cheat Sheet, 19 September 2014.

Source: Thinkstock

Source: Thinkstock