by BINews | May 25, 2013 | Research
Wolfgang Müller – BI News
As many other countries, South Africa struggles to provide effective social assistance policies in tackling poverty and inequality. Any proposed reform has been determined by ideology according to Leon Schreiber in an article on Politicsweb, February 26, 2013. They still ignore social reality, that many people are not able to find employment. This dominance of ideology also affected the public discourse about a proposal for a Basic Income Grant (BIG) by the Taylor Committee on Comprehensive Social Security for South Africa. Despite of positive examples such as Alaska or the Basic Income Grant Coalition in Namibia, the BIG has faded. In order to overcome this ideological driven discourse in South Africa and alleviate poverty and inequality, Schreiber urges to simply relay on the Constitution, which grants everyone the right to social security and social assistance.
Schreiber, Leon “Time to think BIG again?” Politicsweb, February 26, 2013
https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71619?oid=360521&sn=Detail&pid=71619
by BINews | May 24, 2013 | Research
Wolfgang Müller – BI News
This article by Noah Smith, published in The Atlantic, January 13, 2013, discusses the hypothetical proceeding fall of labor income along with its consequences and possible solutions. He argues that the two-thirds/one-thirds division of labor and capital income of most rich nations has changed in a disadvantage to labor income. This is a result of mainly two reasons: First, China’s low wage labor force entered into the global trading system, and second, more persuasive, technology replaces humans in more and more areas. This development requires new creative measurements since current social security systems are not build to deal with this challenge. As an alternative, Smith suggests stakeholder grants “with some fairly light paternalism”, which he calls “portfolio of capital ownership”. Not exactly basic income, but a step in that direction.
Smith, Noah, “The End of Labor: How to Protect Workers From the Rise of Robots,” The Atlantic, January 13, 2013
https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/01/the-end-of-labor-how-to-protect-workers-from-the-rise-of-the-robots/267135/
by Karl Widerquist | May 21, 2013 | Research
This op-ed piece argues that the political climate in Scotland has recently opened up to big ideas such as basic income.
McAlpine, Robin “A new enlightened political debate?” The Scotsman, 05.03.2013
https://www.scotsman.com/news/robin-mcalpine-a-new-enlightened-political-debate-1-2821758
Douglas Alexander. Picture: Getty, the Scotsman
by Yannick Vanderborght | May 20, 2013 | Research
This opinion piece supports a basic income grant in South Africa.
Devenish, GE “The grant has key role,” BusinessDay (South Africa) 08.03.2013
https://www.bdlive.co.za/opinion/letters/2013/03/08/letter-the-grant-has-key-role
by Karl Widerquist | May 19, 2013 | Research
A very early article from the Social Credit movement is now online. Social Credit is a monetary reform movement that includes a basic income guarantee under the name of a “national dividend.”
Gordon-Cumming, M. 1935. “Money in Industry.” London: the C. W. Daniel Company
This article is online at: https://www.scribd.com/doc/114593844/Money-in-Industry
by Karl Widerquist | May 19, 2013 | Research
This classic article of the Social Credit movement is now online. Social Credit is a monetary reform movement that includes a basic income guarantee under the name of a “national dividend.”
Monahan, Bryan W. 1967. “Introduction To Social Credit: Second Revised And Enlarged Edition,” London: K.R.P. Publications Ltd.
This article is online at: https://www.scribd.com/doc/112942854/Introduction-to-Social-Credit-by-Dr-Bryan-W-Monahan
