Swiss demonstration as they delivered of signatures for basic income
Joshua M. Patton, ‘Would Switzerland’s “Income for All” Proposal Work in the United States?’ Opposing Views, November 13, 2013
This article begins a rather philosophical discussion of basic income with the following, “What if America were to scrap all its anti-poverty programmes—welfare, food stamps, unemployment benefits, the works—and replace them with an unconditional basic income (UBI) for everybody? Even in a Congress beset by less extraordinary levels of dysfunction, the idea would have little chance of becoming law. It’s fun to theorise, though. And if Switzerland approves a referendum to send all of its citizens $2,800 a month, the debate will have a fascinating new reference point.”
The Economist, “The check is in the mail: A government-guaranteed basic income,” The Economist, Nov 19th 2013.
The AP via the Economist
Matthew Byrd, “Guarantee income, eliminate poverty,” the Daily Iowan, November 14, 2013.
[Craig Axford]
Mehdi Hasan
The Bank of England’s quantitative easing (QE) policy has generated £375 billion in support for the financial sector, and 40% of that money has ended up in the hands of the top 5%. Mehdi Hasan argues, in this article, that’s money that could have been spent on a “quantitative easing for the people, or QEP”, and he thinks both Milton Friedman and John Maynard Keynes would have agreed.
Mehdi Hasan, “We Could Fix Our Economy by Giving Every Man, Woman and Child £6,000 in Cash”, The Huffington Post, October 25, 2013: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mehdi-hasan/uk-economy-gdp-figures_b_4162089.html?ir=UK
[Ian Orton]
Invariably, the first reaction to the BI proposal is ‘how would it be financed?’ This article argues that a BI of £13,000 per annum is possible for all UK adults. Various financing scenarios are considered, broadly based on a combined financing method consisting of increased national insurance contributions, doubling of income tax (low-income earners would, apparently, be better off after as initial losses (through increased contributions) would be recouped through a BI), substantial contributions from the financial sector and consolidating existing social protection budgets. However, strong reservations are expressed regarding political plausibility of pushing through such financing.
Singularity Utopia, “Is Basic Income Impossible? 2013 Costing for UK #Basic Income”. Singularity Utopia, October 9, 2013.
It’s all about the money -Singularity Utopia
Danny Vinik, “Everyone’s Talking About This Simple Solution To Ending Poverty By Just Giving People Free Money,” Business Insider-Australia, Nov 13 2013.
Poverty pruitt igoe housing project -Business Insider Australia