by Yannick Vanderborght | Jul 17, 2014 | News
François Blais - Photo: OIF, via Le Devoir
In a an interview with the daily newspaper Le Devoir (30 June 2014), François Blais – who was appointed Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity after the April 2014 General Election in Quebec – cautiously reiterates his support for basic income. As BIEN was holding its international conference in Montreal, Blais stressed the fact that a thorough reform of Quebec’s social model would be most welcome, provided it would include the introduction of a “guaranteed minimum income” for all. Blais also insisted on the fact that this was not an official statement of the Quebec’s government, but rather his own position on this issue. In 2001, Blais had published an introductory book on basic income in French, which was translated into English in 2002: “Ending Poverty. A Basic Income for all Canadians” (Lorimer Publishing).
The interview can be found here (in French).
by Harry Pitts | Jun 2, 2014 | Research
This article argues, “In the context of the robot economy, the case for a universal basic income becomes still more compelling.”
Thomas Rodham Wells, “The Crisis of Capitalism: Income in a Post-Employment Age”, 3 Quarks Daily, 12th May 2014
ScreenHunter_616 May. 12 11.37
by Karl Widerquist | May 30, 2014 | Research
Johnny Void, “The Unemployment Timebomb At The Heart Of Universal Credit.” The Void, April 26, 2014.
by Craig Axford | May 9, 2014 | Research
[Craig Axford]
SUMMARY: In this short post the author cites the prospect of long-term technologically driven unemployment as a fundamental reason behind his endorsement of Switzerland’s basic income guarantee proposal.
Philip Khaled Brenan, “Switzerland, the Basic Income, and Technological Unemployment”, The Cat House, March 26, 2014
by Karl Widerquist | Apr 30, 2014 | News
This London Futurists Hangout On Air assembles an international panel of writers who have important things to say on the subject of the future of work: James Hughes, Martin Ford, Gary Marchant, and Marshall Brain. The panellists will be debating:
- Are contemporary predictions of technological unemployment just repeating short-sighted worries from the 19th century “Luddites”?
- What scope is there for a “Basic Income Guarantee” to address the needs of everyone who will struggle to find work in the new age of smarter robots?
- What lessons can be learned from history, and from local experiments in different parts of the world?
- How soon should society be preparing for the kinds of major changes that new generations of robots will bring?
The speakers will respond to live questions from viewers all over the world. Viewers of the live broadcast on Google+ will be able to vote in real time on questions and suggestions to be discussed by the panellists as the Hangout proceeds. Viewers can give ‘+1’ votes to the suggestions they most like.
Event logistics:
Title: “Hangout on Air: Hughes, Brain @ Robots, unemployment, and basic income”
Date & time: Sunday, May 11, 2014 – 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Website: https://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/eventinfo/hughes20140511
London Futurists
