[Josh Martin]
In this post Jehu discusses the basic income’s effect on real and nominal wages as a product of the combination of Keynesian system and the Speenhamland System. Jehu then argues that this basic income could be funded by a consumption tax.
Jehu, “How the basic income scheme could become the Left’s worst nightmare”, The Real Movement, 27 April 2014
Source: The Real Movement
SUMMARY: The author argues, “I think that no-strings-attached money is a dangerously bad idea and that it would do far more to undermine poverty-fighting efforts than it would to strengthen them. I also think that meddlesome caseworkers are the unsung heroes of the fight against poverty. … New York City is on the cusp of a grand experiment to increase the flow of no-strings-attached money to its poor citizens. This will end badly. … There is far more to say about how we can fix America’s social welfare programs. But before we can expand them or shrink them or modernize them, we must first ensure that they rest on a solid moral foundation. And that, ultimately, is what work requirements are all about.”
Reihan Salam, writes for Slate and the National Review. He is the co-author, with Ross Douthat, of Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream.
Reihan Salam, “Unconditional basic income? You’re kidding: Slate opinion,” The Oregonian, June 5, 2014.
New York City's new mayor, Bill de Blasiot via the Oregonian. His team has "announced their intention to ease the enforcement of work requirements. They will no longer require that food-stamp applicants provide proof of their housing expenses, nor will they ask able-bodied adults without children to look for work in exchange for food stamps."
Scott Santens
SUMMARY: This article argues, “Capitalism can be improved, and basic income is how it can be accomplished.”
Scott Santens, “Why Should We Support the Idea of an Unconditional Basic Income? – An answer to a growing question of the 21st century”, Medium, 2nd June 2014
[Josh Martin]
A South African human rights organization named Black Sash have welcomed the social grants already in place, but want the government to “seriously” consider basic income grants as well.
Emilia Motsai, “Basic Income Grant is Necessary”, The Citizen, 3 April 2014
Image courtesy stockxchnge.com
The Sheffield Equality Group has conducted a pilot survey of attitudes twoard basic income. The sample-size was small, and it was gathered without employing randomized sampling techniques. Therefore, the results cannot be considered representative; the author’s “primary aim was to assess the diversity of response, pilot the survey and explore possible results and consideration for a wider scale survey.”
Nevertheless, these initial results are interesting. Only 15% of respondents thought the current welfare system works well for the UK as a whole. 79% agreed People would do more voluntary or unwaged work if they got a basic income. 81% agreed it should be introduced for every UK citizen. And 85% agreed it would help businesses find temporary and flexible workers.
The author, Jason Leman, has worked in survey design and analysis for over a decade. He has researched political involvement and activity as part of gaining a Masters in Research.
An info graphic with some of the results and a link to the full report can be found at:
Sheffield Equality Group, “Basic Income Survey”, Sheffield Equality Group, April 2014.
The full report is online in PDF format:
Jason Leman, “Exploring a Future Welfare State: A Pilot Survey on the Basic Income.” Sheffield, UK: Sheffield Equality Group, March 2013.
Sheffield Equality Group Survey Results
Katarzyna Gajewska, “UBI, Power Relations and Housing Problems”, Basic Income UK: Towards an emancipatory welfare, 14th May 2014.
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