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universal basic income

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shawn mach
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Further to this earlier thread re Finland, there have been a few stories over the past few days re the idea of a universal basic income

Switzerland voted against the idea in a referendum at the weekend: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36454060

Compass launched a new paper last night Universal Basic Income: An idea whose time has come?

... and the Shadow Chancellor has said universal basic income is “an idea Labour will be closely looking at over the next few years”: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/05/john-mcdonnell-labour-universal-basic-income-welfare-benefits-compass-report

Gareth Morgan
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shawn - 07 June 2016 11:08 AM

Switzerland voted against the idea in a referendum at the weekend:

Fairer to say that they didn’t vote against the idea so much as against a very high proposal without an explanation of funding.

Mike Hughes
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I think that’s an accurate summary Gareth. This is an idea which, if its time hasn’t exactly come, isn’t going to go away any time soon. It’s not quite gaining momentum but it’s foreseeable that this will be at the forefront of any battle with neo-liberal ideological economic ideas over the next decade.

Stuart
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New Commons library briefing paper - ‘Universal basic income’  - includes arguments for and against, review of recent published reports and developments abroad.

http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CDP-2016-0167

MaggieB
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All sounds great but wouldn’t we all be out of work?!

Mike Hughes
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MaggieB - 14 September 2016 07:26 PM

All sounds great but wouldn’t we all be out of work?!

And on a decent income with no conditionality.

Not hearing a problem :)

shawn mach
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Gareth Morgan
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shawn - 15 September 2016 12:15 PM

Westminster Hall debate yesterday .. govt not a fan!

Universal basic income ‘goes against every aspect’ of the government’s approach to welfare

Must be OK then.

Elliot Kent
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UBI back in the news as apparently Fife and Glasgow councils are considering a pilot : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jan/01/universal-basic-income-trials-being-considered-in-scotland

Also, Richard Murphy’s thought-provoking book “The Joy of Tax” contains some interesting discussion of it. He thinks it would be cheaper to administer and would reduce the perception of people as “scroungers” because everyone would be a “scrounger” to an equal extent.

Stuart
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Finland starts paying universal basic income of €560 (around £475) a month to unemployed people in a two year pilot scheme.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/03/finland-trials-basic-income-for-unemployed

Stuart
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MSPs in the Scottish Social Security Committee will be looking at the feasibility of universal basic income on 9 March.

http://www.parliament.scot/newsandmediacentre/103064.aspx

In Northern Ireland, responding to a written question this week, the Communities Minister said there are currently no plans to explore the potential of universal basic income.

http://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/questions/printquestionsummary.aspx?docid=287515

Daphne
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Stuart
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LSE article examines the appeal of universal basic income and what issues are being missed by its proponents-

Why Basic Income alone will not be a panacea to social insecurity

CDV Adviser
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“.......the confused vision and scant intellectual resources of the left.”

Nice turn of phrase. Apparently on the left is confused and devoid of intellect.

Stuart
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New polling data and the latest Institute for Policy Research policy brief highlight the political challenges that stand in the way of introducing a universal basic income in the UK.

http://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/half-of-us-would-support-universal-basic-income-but-support-drops-if-benefits-are-cut-or-taxes-rise/

Daphne
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UCL Institute for Global Prosperity have published a report on Universal Basic Services recommending that the UK should provide citizens with free housing, food, transport and IT to counter the threat of worsening inequality and job insecurity posed by technological advances -

The proposal for ‘Universal Basic Services’ represents an affordable alternative to a so-called ‘citizens’ income’ advocated by some economists, according to the expert authors working for UCL’s Institute for Global Prosperity.

Building on the ethos that saw the establishment of the NHS and public education – that essential services should be free at the point of need – the plan would “raise the floor” of basic services all citizens can expect, providing better protection for workers in the face of rapid advances in technology and automation.