by Karl Widerquist | Jun 23, 2014 | Research
SUMMARY: This article argues that robots are replace a significant amount of human labor and concludes that government need to introduce new policies in response. “These can include tax reforms to provide a safety net for those who become unemployed, smaller government, programs to stimulate start-up innovation, sharing and open source and providing citizens with an unconditional basic income (a federal stipend guarantee).”
Federico Pistono, founder and CEO of the online learning start-up Esplori, is a computer scientist, activist and social entrepreneur. He is also the author of the book Robots Will Steal Your Job, But That’s OK: How to Survive the Economic Collapse and Be Happy.
Federico Pistono, “Get ready, robots are going to steal your job.” CNBC, 9 Jun 2014.
CNBC
by Harry Pitts | Jun 23, 2014 | Research
Deirdre Kent, “Government Superannuation, Basic Income, Duplication and the Housing stock”, The New Economics Party, 15th June 2014.
Government Superannuation
by Karl Widerquist | Jun 21, 2014 | Research
John Aziz -TheWeek.com
SUMMARY: This article discusses technological unemployment and concludes optimistically, “If the economy is disemboweled by a lack of consumer spending, corporations fat off the self-perpetuating riches of automation and plentiful, cheap energy will likely be all too happy to support generous redistributive programs to support the spending of the hordes of out-of-work people, like a universal basic income.”
John Aziz, “Could a robot do my job? Probably, but I’m still optimistic.” TheWeek, May 20, 2014.
Is it only a matter of time? (Thinkstock via TheWeek)
by Karl Widerquist | Jun 21, 2014 | Research
SUMMARY: This article is a continuation of the Basic Income article from a previous post on Common Progress, this time discussing two specific programs the Negative Income Tax and the Fair Tax. The author endorses Basic Income in name, but actually supports a policy with a work requirement.
Jeremiah Luttrell, “Fair Tax and Negative Income Tax.” Common Progress. 27 May 2014
by Karl Widerquist | Jun 21, 2014 | Research
Bold Blue Magazine, “Unconditional Basic Income: Discussion Whose Time Has Come?” Bold Blue Magazine, June 2014, pp. 28-31.
by Karl Widerquist | Jun 21, 2014 | Research
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: In the final joint policy paper in our series with the University of Birmingham, Simon Duffy outlines the case for radical reform of the tax-benefit system. The current system is confusing and unfair, it locks the poor into poverty and imposes upon them the highest rates of tax. Instead we need to move to an integrated tax-benefit system, one that provides a guaranteed and reasonable level of income for all individuals and families. The paper proposes the creation of a system of Fair Income Security, a system that would have the following seven features:
- Integration of the current tax and benefits into one coherent system
- A consistent approach for benefits and taxation, more supportive of families, in all their forms
- The simplification of tax-benefit calculations into one set of questions
- A minimum income for all, delivered through a universal, non-means-tested, benefit
- Fair rates of taxation that remove the extreme disincentives for the poorest
- A constitutional right to a minimum guaranteed income and to fair taxes
- A public committee to shape the core entitlements, open to submission and scrutiny
Such a system would be fair, rational, economically sustainable, and would reflect the changing nature of modern society.
Simon Duffy “A Fair Income.” The Centre for Welfare Reform (UK), 2011.
