by Yannick Vanderborght | Nov 14, 2010 | Research
LO VUOLO, Rubén, RAVENTÓS, Daniel & YANES, Pablo (2010), ‘El Ingreso Ciudadano-Renta Básica ante la crisis económica y los ataques a los derechos sociales y laborales’, SinPermiso-electrónico, September 12 2010, online at:
https://www.nodo50.org/redrentabasica/descargas/DPR.pdf
A vigorous plea in favour of basic income in times of economic crisis. Also available in English at:
https://www.counterpunch.org/vuolo11052010.html
by Yannick Vanderborght | Nov 14, 2010 | Research
YAMAMORI Toru (2010), ‘Neoliberals And The Radical Left Are In The Same Basic Income Boat: Is The Debate In Japan An Exception Or Is There A Universal Rationale Behind It?’, EASP & Graduate School of Theology, Sogang University, South Korea. Abstract is available at: https://7th.welfareasia.org/blog/. Author’s address: toruyamamori@gmail.com
This paper by Toru Yamamori (Doshisha University, Kyoto, and Basic Income Network Japan) was presented at the 7th East Asian Social Policy research network (EASP) international conference (Sogang University, Seoul, Korea, 20-21 August 2010). The first section provides an overview of Japan’s system of income security over the past half century and shows the various causes of the current system’s dysfunction. In the second section, the author points out the lack of a vocabulary used to describe the new direction gradually being taken under the Democratic Party of Japan. After briefly outlining the debate surrounding Basic Income in the third section, he uses the fourth section to propose using the vocabulary accumulated in the basic income debate to fill the explanatory gap in discussions of current economic and social policies.
by Yannick Vanderborght | Nov 14, 2010 | Research
FITZROY, Felix & JIN, Jim (2010), ‘Efficient Redistribution: Comparing Basic Income with Unemployment Benefits’, Discussion Paper No. 5236, October 2010, Bonn (DE): Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), iza@iza.org, paper available at https://ftp.iza.org/dp5236.pdf
The authors compare two systems of income redistribution: unemployment benefits (UB) and basic income (BI). First, for a simple utility function, with both intensive and extensive margins, the unemployed are likely better off with pure BI than pure UB, regardless of labour supply elasticity and wage distribution. Then the authors allow a general utility function and ignore intensive margins. For given unemployment, lowering UB and raising BI always benefits the unemployed, raises utilitarian welfare and benefits a poor majority. Reducing unemployment and UB simultaneously can benefit a majority of the employed as well as all unemployed, again for any wage distribution. In other words, the authors show that the majority of the working population gains from switching from unemployment benefits to a universal basic income, with given unemployment and essentially any wage distribution, although the tax rate will increase.
by Yannick Vanderborght | Nov 12, 2010 | Research
BIEN-Suisse (ed.) (2010), Le financement d’un revenu de base inconditionnel, Zurich: Seismo, ISBN 978-2-88351-049-4, https://www.seismoverlag.ch/fr/
This book edited by the Swiss basic income network includes several papers focusing on concrete proposals for financing a basic income scheme in Switzerland. Other contributors examine the same issue for Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. A German version is also available.
by Yannick Vanderborght | Nov 12, 2010 | News
The German Government has proposed a modest increase for the means-tested minimum income scheme, in reaction to a recent decision of the Federal Constitutional Court. In a reaction to the government’s plan, Sven Lehmann – chairman of the Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) in the Region of Nordrhein-Westfalen – proposed the introduction of a basic income of 850€, which should replace welfare and unemployment benefits as well as the student loan. Lehmann expects enormous savings (approximately 7 billion) in government spending because of a reduction in administrative costs. A first step to a basic income for all should be a 330€ basic income for children.
Further information:
https://www.fr-online.de/politik/nrw-gruener-fordert-850-euro-grundeinkommen/-/1472596/4691604/-/index.html
