by Karl Widerquist | Nov 6, 2014 | Research
SUMMARY: Changes to Australia’s income support system over time have resulted in unintended complexities, inconsistencies and disincentives for some people to work. Achieving a simpler and sustainable income support system should involve a simpler architecture, a fair rate structure, a common approach to adjusting payments, a new approach to support for families with children and young people, effective rent assistance, and rewards for work and targeting assistance to need. The paper argues that a preferred alternative for achieving these goals would be Basic Income.
Judith S. Willis. “Response to Interim Report: Review of Australia’s Welfare System.” Australian Government, Department of Social Services, August 2014
by Josh Martin | Nov 5, 2014 | Research
[Josh Martin]
Rader’s post discusses the failure of US foreign policy in the Middle East and the fact that terrorism surfaces most often in areas with extreme poverty. In order to fight terrorism, Rader argues that developed nations should implement income subsidies to those in extreme poverty as a form of a global basic income.
Gaura Rader, “What if we Dropped Money Instead of Bombs on the Middle East?”, The Socratic Diablogs, 15 August 2014.
(Source: Socratic Diablogs)
by Josh Martin | Nov 4, 2014 | Research
[Josh Martin]
In his post, Thorpe argues for the European Central Bank and the Bank of England to begin giving an unconditional basic income to all citizens. This would allow these central banks to directly control the amount of money in circulation.
Simon Thorpe, “Why Mario Draghi and Mark Carney should be pushing for an Unconditional Basic Income for all”, Simon Thorpe’s Ideas on the Economy, 19 October 2014.
Simon Thorpe (Source: Simon Thorpe's Ideas on the Economy)
by Craig Axford | Nov 3, 2014 | Research
[Craig Axford]
In this post from BillMoyers.com 10 different steps to eliminating poverty in the United States are outlined. Though a basic income guarantee is not mentioned directly, expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is. Currently childless workers don’t benefit from this tax credit much. By expanding the program to include all workers, together with an increase in the minimum wage, the authors point out that millions could be lifted out of poverty.
Rebecca Vallas and Melissa Boteach, “Top 10 Solutions to Cut Poverty and Grow the Middle Class”, BillMoyers.com, October 3, 2014
by Josh Martin | Nov 2, 2014 | Research
[Josh Martin]
Atkins rightly points out the lack of bipartisanship in American politics at the moment, but it seems the universal basic income is on pace to buck that trend. While the basic income is off the mainstream political debate topics, a growing number of conservatives and progressives are supporting the policy, including Milton Friedman and Charles Murray.
David Atkins, “Bipartisan consensus for universal basic income”, Washington Monthly, 19 October 2014.
by Scott Santens | Nov 1, 2014 | Research
In this article, Scott Santens evaluates the American ideals of freedom, liberty, and democracy and the degrees to which they each exist in America today, concluding that a basic income guarantee would best enable these ideals to flourish in actual practice.
Scott Santens, “It’s Time We Take a Closer Look at America’s Three Favorite Words: Freedom, Liberty, and Democracy“, Medium, 28 October 2014.
