LUXEMBOURG (Luxembourg), April 1, 2011: University of Luxembourg public workshop: Basic Income and Income Redistribution
This workshop discussed basic income as it related to issues of income distribution, labor market participation and, in small countries like Luxembourg, control of migration flows. It included a roundtable (in French) with guest lecturers Philippe Van Parijs from the Catholic University of Louvain, Tony Atkinson of Nuffield College, Oxford, and Tito Boeri, Bocconi University, Italy.
A report by Mosaik.lu said the workshop was well attended by people ranging from students to businesspersons. The workshop aimed to address the many complexities of this topic. According to Mosaik.lu, Van Parijs noted many freedoms that adequate income brings to the individual, such as empowerment and choice (allowing individuals to move easily between employment, education, and family). Atkinson said decent provision for the poor is a true test of a civilization, and pointed out the responsibility of society to provide for everyone. Boeri was more critical, worrying that generous program would lead to “Welfare Shopping,” in which migrants move to the place with the best welfare benefits. He suggested decoupling migration and welfare.
Other speakers included Serge Allegrezza, general director of the National Statistical Institute, Robert Kieffer, President of the National Pension Insurance Fund, Frederic Berger, researcher at the Center for Population, Poverty, and Political Studies, Muriel Bouchet, Central Bank of Luxembourg, and Professor Pierre Picard of the University of Luxembourg. The event was hosted by Jürgen Stoldt.
More information is online at:
https://wwwfr.uni.lu/newsletter2/intern_articles_repository/a_basic_income_for_everybody/%28language%29/fre-FR
A news report on workshop is online at:
https://www.mymosaik.lu/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=2561:university-of-luxembourg-examines-basic-income-issues&Itemid=125
