by Josh Martin | Aug 15, 2014 | Research
[Josh Martin]
In this article Aziz discusses Germany’s recent legislation to introduce a minimum wage far higher than the USA’s current minimum wage. Aziz notes that many on the left have used Germany’s success as an example of what Washington should be trying to pass in America. However, Aziz believes that an increased minimum wage is a 20th century solution to a 21st century problem. With ever-increasing automation of jobs through advances in robotics, a time will come when robots replace many low-wage jobs, thus leaving many workers unemployed. This is why Aziz believes a basic income is the correct route out of this issue. A higher minimum wage will not help those in low-pay jobs when robots continue to replace them. Instead, a basic income should be introduced to ensure the well-being of the newly displaced workers.
John Aziz “The progressive case for ending the minimum wage”, The Week, 14 July 2014.
Meet the new boss. (Source: The Week)
by Josh Martin | Aug 14, 2014 | Research
[Josh Martin]
Konczal vehemently disagrees with Zwolinski’s post from Cato Unbound that made a pragmatic libertarian case for a basic income. In the original post, Zwolinski points out the number of different welfare programs and the size of its bureaucracy as a reason to switch to the simpler basic income, but Konczal counters this by showing that seven programs account for most of welfare and that the average administrative cost is around five percent for each program. Thus, Konczal claims that a push for a basic income needs to be built on a sturdier argument than the libertarian one.
Mike Konczal, “The Pragmatic Libertarian Case for a Basic Income Doesn’t Add Up”, Next New Deal, 8 August 2014.
Konczal discusses the size of the bureaucracy in welfare (Source: Next New Deal)
by Josh Martin | Aug 13, 2014 | Research
[Josh Martin]
Klinger attended the BIEN Congress in Montreal this summer, and the presentations dedicated to the effects a basic income would have on jobs especially caught the eye. Because most people working low-pay jobs are often only working them because they need the money, a basic income would allow people to only work jobs that are meaningful to their life. Klinger claims a basic income will promote a healthier work/life balance for everyone in society, resulting in a transition to an economy of care.
Jamie Klinger, “The other side of Basic Income: Basic Jobs”, Joatu, 28 July 2014.
(Source: JoatU.com)
by Josh Martin | Aug 13, 2014 | Research
[Josh Martin]
Frank voices a few objections to Zwolinski’s original post on the basic income at Cato Unbound. Frank agrees that a basic income would be preferable to the current system, but he fears that a basic income that raises a family out of poverty would never be politically sustainable. Hardworking taxpayers might soon hear about others who live off of their basic incomes and create animosity between the two groups. However, Frank does not write off a basic income entirely. Instead, he advocates a basic income that is not a livable amount paired with public work opportunities at sub-minimum wage levels. This would make poverty effectively a choice in his eyes, since everybody could find work that would raise them above the poverty line.
Robert Frank, “Let’s Try a Basic Income and Public Work”, Cato Unbound, 11 August 2014.
Cato Unbound is hosting a month-long discussion on "The Basic Income and the Welfare State"
by Craig Axford | Aug 12, 2014 | Research
Source: Wikimedia
[Craig Axford]
Indonesia’s aged and disabled populations are among its most vulnerable. A basic income guarantee covering the roughly 15% of Indonesia’s population that fall within these categories would significantly reduce inequality and improve quality of life.
Mickael B. Hoelman and Sugeng Bahagijo, “Arguing for Indonesian basic income”, The Jakarta Post, July 22, 2014
by Josh Martin | Aug 12, 2014 | Research
[Josh Martin]
Manzi responds to Zwolinski’s original post at Cato Unbound by attacking the basic income guarantee (BIG) using the randomized experiments from 1968 to 1980 as evidence that a BIG would reduce work hours. Manzi goes on to claim that the best way out of poverty is through work and thus welfare policies that have work requirements are the best way to address welfare. Manzi then turns towards Zwolinski’s idealism. Zwolinski argued for a constitutional amendment that would implement a BIG for each citizen, but Manzi thinks Zwolinski is too optimistic about passing the BIG into law. The democratic process contains many behind-the-scenes changes to bills, so passing a pure BIG seems far-fetched to Manzi.
Jim Manzi, “When the Basic Income Guarantee Meets the Political Process”, Cato Unbound, 8 August 2014.
Cato Unbound is hosting a month-long discussion on "The Basic Income and the Welfare State"
