The concept of a universal basic income has already been suggested for arts workers hit by the pandemic, but what if there was a constant security and safety net for all, a payment always delivered to all citizens with no strings attached?
The idea was first floated by Thomas More in Utopia in 1516, is now being advocated by Pope Francis and President Michael D Higgins and is being considered by governments across the world. The basic income guarantee is frequently referred to as universal basic income (UBI).
UBI is a periodic payment paid at regular intervals as a cash payment without conditions, allowing those who receive it to decide what to spend it on. It is paid individually without a means test and is unconditional without a requirement to work or demonstrate a willingness to work.
In Ireland, the Green Party fought for a trial run for UBI to be included in the Programme for Government, and there is to be one at some stage over the next five years.
Among its most ardent supporters is Green Party Dublin Central TD Neasa Hourigan, co-author of the partys policy. The Green Party proposes a system of UBI in Ireland for all citizens in 2024, pending a successful trial. She envisages that the trial in Ireland will take between 18 and 20 months to plan and that the trial itself would run for two to three years.
A basic provision of economic resources would address poverty and economic inequality even though it doesnt promise to eradicate either, Hourigan says. She says that in Ireland we already recognise payments like these child benefit and state pension but UBI would close the gap between the two.
I am particularly wedded to UBI because it would have the greatest uplift for people on the margins of existing social welfare bands. The lowest income families should already be within the support network but those in part-time employment often find themselves just outside State help. UBI would address that and be particularly important for women and those who care.
The Greens are not alone in supporting UBI. It also has advocates in Fianna Fil such as Willie ODea, while outside government the Social Democrats have also expressed interest. The Department of Social Protection has said that the Low Pay Commission will examine UBI in due course.
It has been tested elsewhere. The longest trial run for UBI in the world is in Alaska. Since 1982, the state has been giving every woman, man, and child between $1,000 to $2,000 per year. A 2016 study by the University of Alaska found it reduced poverty up to 20 per cent.
In Finland, a two-year UBI study in 2017 and 2018 saw 2,000 unemployed Finns receive the payments of 560, with no obligation to seek a job and no reduction in payment if they accepted one. Participants reported greater feelings of autonomy, financial security, and confidence in the future, although it did not make them any more likely to find work.
[UBI is] a big idea but a transformative idea, in the way bringing in an old-age pension would have been seen as radical more than 100 years ago, says Bobby Lambert, joint co-ordinator of Basic Income Ireland, a campaign group for UBI in Ireland.
Lambert would rather the Irish trial did not focus on a group like the unemployed and rather a more general group of people, preferably a geographical area. To pay every resident in Ireland the basic income would cost an estimated 6.5 billion per annum.
Some taxes suggested to raise for money for UBI in the Green Party policy include pension funds, site value tax, speculative transaction tax and stamp duty for property trades that are not the principal private residence.
UBI would be given to each recipient from birth or point of residency, from cradle to grave, with the amount given to those under 26 years of age varied depending on wages in a similar way to how social welfare exists today with a set rate given to all adults over 26. Children under 18-years-old would receive 32.31 per week, according to the Green Party plan, with 112.70 for 18 to 21-year-olds, 157.80 for 21 to 25-year-olds and 203 for adults over 26 years old.
UBI is not without its critics. Laura Bambrick, the head of social policy and employment affairs at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, finds the idea of replacing existing welfare safety nets concerning. The money needed to pay adequate UBI, she says, would be better spent on reforming social protection systems and building better quality public services.
Our welfare system is complex precisely because the root causes of poverty are complex, Bambrick says. A one-size-fits-all payment will hurt those with the greatest risk of poverty.
She believes that no UBI payment would work as well as an average European welfare system for the most vulnerable people. And she contends that providing welfare top-ups on top of UBI, as advocated by some proponents of this system, would end up being far too costly. [It] would make for a uniquely Irish UBI, and I look forward to seeing their maths. Hourigan says that the difference between the current welfare rates and UBI will be made up by further State payments.
Welfare and efficient use of resources also concerns Ian Goldin, Professor of Globalisation and Development at Oxford University, who has spoken against UBI in the past.
He says that if you gave everyone half the minimum wage in Ireland, it would be bigger than the budget of all social welfare. He points out that UBI is favoured by tech billionaires and right-wing libertarians as well as left-wing progressives, and it may be used by the rich to normalise the automation of employment and abolish existing welfare supports.
Its giving everyone a low amount of money and we will give unemployed people less than they need and unnecessarily so. That is not the answer to either poverty inequality or the future of work.
Goldin also takes issue at the universality of UBI, saying it is a waste of needed funds to give the income to the wealthy. He says that societal safety nets and raising the wage of low-paid and vulnerable workers through the current system would be a more worthy use of resources.
The other issue frequently brought up by critics of UBI is the danger that an unconditional payment would disincentivise work, even though the trials done so far suggest that payments have little effect on employment.
Danny McCoy,chief executive of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec), says UBI would undermine our current active labour market policies which would result in labour supply challenges and could diminish overall labour cost competitiveness in the economy.
He says that Ibec remains open to debate on the merits of UBI and research that indicates it could be positive for entrepreneurship. On that point, Lambert highlights a UBI project in Namibia, which found it helped local business as they had the financial security to work on business ideas.
Hourigan says that Covid-19 has changed the discussion and been valuable to the UBI debate. There has always been a real resistance to the idea that our current tax system and economic models could support such a payment. The Covid-19 crisis has refocused the minds of many towards the well-being of communities.
UBI is not going to solve the housing crisis, says Lambert. But it is part of a general investment for a better and fairer society.
Read the rest here:
Basic income for all: Has the Covid crisis given us a new economic model? - The Irish Times
- Research on the influence of digital finance on the economic ... - Nature.com - September 11th, 2023 [September 11th, 2023]
- Albanese persists with reverse Robin Hood policies - Red Flag - September 11th, 2023 [September 11th, 2023]
- Governor Hochul Announces Fare Free Bus Routes Included in MTA ... - ny.gov - July 17th, 2023 [July 17th, 2023]
- Higher taxes on the wealthy would bolster Social Security, U.S. ... - Idaho Capital Sun - July 17th, 2023 [July 17th, 2023]
- Love in the Time of Sickle Cell Disease, by Krithika Varagur - Harper's Magazine - July 17th, 2023 [July 17th, 2023]
- BIEN working group on Clarification of the Definition of Basic Income ... - Basic Income News - July 4th, 2023 [July 4th, 2023]
- MEPs call for revamp of artists rights across EU and debate on AI-generated content - Yahoo News UK - July 4th, 2023 [July 4th, 2023]
- What are Liquid Assets and How Can They Improve Your Portfolio - Nomad Capitalist - July 4th, 2023 [July 4th, 2023]
- Income guarantee a clear and immediate solution to Prod Comm ... - Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand - June 26th, 2023 [June 26th, 2023]
- Unable to escape persistent hardship: JRF's cost of living tracker ... - Joseph Rowntree Foundation - June 26th, 2023 [June 26th, 2023]
- No relief for the 7.3 million going without essentials - JRF responds ... - Joseph Rowntree Foundation - June 26th, 2023 [June 26th, 2023]
- Additional borrowings, higher revenue targets, hiked taxes may still ... - South First - June 26th, 2023 [June 26th, 2023]
- Simon Wilson: Green Partys poverty plan for Election 2023 - and the ... - New Zealand Herald - June 26th, 2023 [June 26th, 2023]
- Remarks by President Biden in a Political Event with Reproductive ... - The White House - June 26th, 2023 [June 26th, 2023]
- Why does South Africa need a Universal Basic Income Guarantee ... - December 16th, 2022 [December 16th, 2022]
- Child poverty across eastern Europe and Central Asia soars by 19 per cent, as Ukraine war and rising inflation drive four million children into... - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Denver approves $2 million for basic income project - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- Basic Income Grant what its all about and what i... - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- EXPLAINER | Basic Income Grant: What is the debate about? | Fin24 - News24 - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Martin Lewis MSE warns millions are missing out on broadband discount and you could save 114 a year... - The Sun - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2022 - World - ReliefWeb - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Stating Her Mission: One-on-one with Stacey Abrams - Valdosta Daily Times - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Erin Smith and Thomas Smith of Weston, Florida, Support Veterans with Efforts of Project We Care - Digital Journal - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- International food crisis and proposals to overcome it - CADTM.org - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Guy Standing: A basic income is a right of every individual - Buenos Aires Times - August 22nd, 2022 [August 22nd, 2022]
- Is Universal Basic Income a good idea? | JRF - July 3rd, 2022 [July 3rd, 2022]
- THINKING OUT LOUD WITH SHELDON MacLEOD: Basic Income Guarantee - Saltwire - July 3rd, 2022 [July 3rd, 2022]
- Income-Support Programs Could Save Thousands of Lives a Year: Study - The Fiscal Times - June 11th, 2022 [June 11th, 2022]
- Biden Slammed With Another Awful Inflation Report | The Fiscal Times - The Fiscal Times - June 11th, 2022 [June 11th, 2022]
- Analysis: Ending child hunger and food insecurity needs to be a top priority in Canada as well as globally - Brighter World - June 11th, 2022 [June 11th, 2022]
- Two thirds of people in Yorkshire support scrapping Universal Credit - Yorkshire Live - March 4th, 2022 [March 4th, 2022]
- Low-income Texans are still reeling from the winter storm. Theres no guarantee the next time will be better - Houston Public Media - February 15th, 2022 [February 15th, 2022]
- Opinion | Basic Income Guarantee is the best way to improve lives - TheSpec.com - January 17th, 2022 [January 17th, 2022]
- Pioneering places: 10 hotspots of positive change in 2021 - Positive.News - December 22nd, 2021 [December 22nd, 2021]
- Need to address Indias growing disparities - Financial Express - December 22nd, 2021 [December 22nd, 2021]
- FPJ Edit: Garibi Hatao - NITI Aayogs multi-dimensional poverty index takes a holistic view of the - Free Press Journal - December 1st, 2021 [December 1st, 2021]
- A Universal Basic Income Is The Private Sectors Job, Not The Taxpayers - Forbes - October 21st, 2021 [October 21st, 2021]
- We want to give everyone in Britain 400 a month no strings attached - Open Democracy - October 11th, 2021 [October 11th, 2021]
- Kawartha Lakes ranked one of highest in province in food insecurity - ThePeterboroughExaminer.com - October 11th, 2021 [October 11th, 2021]
- 'A hatchet job' A response by the Institute for... - Daily Maverick - October 7th, 2021 [October 7th, 2021]
- Personal resources and those of family and friends, not the State, guarantee ESCR in Jalisco - OpenGlobalRights - September 20th, 2021 [September 20th, 2021]
- Sturgeon drags Scotland to the left with plan for universal income - Telegraph.co.uk - September 8th, 2021 [September 8th, 2021]
- What is a universal basic income? And which countries are eyeing a trial? - Big Issue - August 22nd, 2021 [August 22nd, 2021]
- Call for Universal Basic Income to end 'toxic' thinking around poverty - The National - August 22nd, 2021 [August 22nd, 2021]
- Scotland to host world's largest conference on Universal Basic Income - The National - August 14th, 2021 [August 14th, 2021]
- South African social movements to participate in global Festival to Fight Inequality and push for universal basic income grant - Daily Maverick - August 14th, 2021 [August 14th, 2021]
- Both Gig Workers and Freelancers enjoy the flexibility of gig work but miss employment-related benefits that would bring them better financial... - August 14th, 2021 [August 14th, 2021]
- SA needs income support for 18- to 59-year-olds and Treasury can afford it, say experts - Daily Maverick - August 9th, 2021 [August 9th, 2021]
- Universal basic income - Pros and cons - Economics Help - July 27th, 2021 [July 27th, 2021]
- Basic income guarantee pilot scheme for the arts sector - July 25th, 2021 [July 25th, 2021]
- Basic income guarantee scheme to be piloted for artists - July 25th, 2021 [July 25th, 2021]
- Money printing is a flawed experiment that's done America more harm than good - MarketWatch - July 21st, 2021 [July 21st, 2021]
- Universal basic income would be 'great opportunity' for independence - The National - July 18th, 2021 [July 18th, 2021]
- Universal credit cut set to leave millions with less than half of acceptable living standards income - The Independent - July 14th, 2021 [July 14th, 2021]
- Is a universal basic income coming to Wales? Campaigners say now is the time - Big Issue - May 16th, 2021 [May 16th, 2021]
- Minister Martin: We can protect our artists by covering their basic living costs - thejournal.ie - March 21st, 2021 [March 21st, 2021]
- Clubhouse promises its accelerator participants either brand deals or $5K per month during the program - TechCrunch - March 16th, 2021 [March 16th, 2021]
- Agenda: Is Universal Basic Income the key to tackling care leaver poverty? - HeraldScotland - March 7th, 2021 [March 7th, 2021]
- Get creative to help artists through pandemic - The Guardian - February 16th, 2021 [February 16th, 2021]
- The economy can't guarantee a job. It can guarantee a liveable income for other work - The Conversation AU - January 25th, 2021 [January 25th, 2021]
- Donald Trump and Richard Nixon: 10 comparisons the Internet made to show POTUS is '10X worse' - MEAWW - January 15th, 2021 [January 15th, 2021]
- Universal basic income has time come for it? Debate intensifies in pandemic - WRAL Tech Wire - November 29th, 2020 [November 29th, 2020]
- We Need Universal Basic Income And We Need It Now - Scary Mommy - August 30th, 2020 [August 30th, 2020]
- Prepare for the irreversible rise of non-profit activity everywhere - Livemint - August 26th, 2020 [August 26th, 2020]
- Five Things You Need to Know to Start Your Day - Bloomberg - August 26th, 2020 [August 26th, 2020]
- In the wake of Covid-19, time to consider basic income: Senate report - Investment Executive - July 15th, 2020 [July 15th, 2020]
- COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Tuesday, July 14 - CBC.ca - July 15th, 2020 [July 15th, 2020]
- COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Monday, July 13 - CBC.ca - July 15th, 2020 [July 15th, 2020]
- COVID illuminates global inequalities in workers' rights and working conditions - University of Birmingham - June 24th, 2020 [June 24th, 2020]
- Why a Universal Basic Income is the solution to inequity - Women's Agenda - June 24th, 2020 [June 24th, 2020]
- Crypto Experts Reveal Thoughts: How Will Bitcoin Perform After the COVID-19 Crisis Has Passed? - Yahoo Finance - June 24th, 2020 [June 24th, 2020]
- A universal basic income is less attractive if it needs to be paid for - American Enterprise Institute - June 17th, 2020 [June 17th, 2020]
- KAREN FOSTER: Pandemic pay premium for grocery store employees a flash in the pan - TheChronicleHerald.ca - June 17th, 2020 [June 17th, 2020]
- COVID-19: UN agencies warn against rising hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean - UN News - June 17th, 2020 [June 17th, 2020]
- Why recovery needs to have children at its centre - Social Europe - June 17th, 2020 [June 17th, 2020]
- Basic Income activism in the United States | BIEN - Basic Income News - June 6th, 2020 [June 6th, 2020]
- When All Men Are Paid for Existing: Universal Basic Income Has Arrived - National Review - June 6th, 2020 [June 6th, 2020]
- Local funds model the racial reckoning and renewal central to the COVID recovery - ImpactAlpha - June 6th, 2020 [June 6th, 2020]
- National Security at the United Nations This Week (May 8-15) - Just Security - May 15th, 2020 [May 15th, 2020]
- What is Basic Income? | Guaranteed Universal Basic Income - May 11th, 2020 [May 11th, 2020]