Pages

Showing posts with label Universal Basic Income (UBI). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Universal Basic Income (UBI). Show all posts

Saturday, November 1, 2025

Dr David Bell: Universal Basic Income - Make slavery great again


I once worked in communities supported mainly through a form of Universal Basic Income (UBI).

Most money was received from the government for no (or token) work, or from mining royalties, where others worked digging on the communities’ lands. There were walls black and heaving with cockroaches while children slept with dogs on stained mattresses below, and babies covered head to toe in pustular scabies while the mother complained about a sore back. This was not universal, but not uncommon. Other communities that stood out as strong and healthy had people working hard for a living – particularly in roles that reflected their culture – a very different economy.

Saturday, August 31, 2024

Alexander Plum, Kabir Dasgupta: Why a universal basic income might foster wellbeing but not productivity


Labour or leisure? Why a universal basic income might foster wellbeing but not productivity

The current cost-of-living crisis, high interest rates and the ensuing economic contraction have disproportionately hit low-income households. And for many low-income workers, the future remains uncertain.

On top of that, the rise of artificial intelligence may result in significant job redundancies and displacements. And recent employment data for New Zealand has been grim, with a rise in the number of unemployed.

Sunday, August 4, 2024

Dr Eric Crampton: Basic income, again


This week's column for the Stuff papers covered the excellent new US work testing the effects of a UBI.

From November 2020, 3000 low-income people were randomly assigned into two groups for three years. One thousand people each received $1000 per month in unconditional funds for three years. Two thousand people each received $50 per month.

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Dr Eric Crampton: Putting a universal basic income to the test


It’s hard not to marvel at Silicon Valley’s technological innovations. But I’m dumbfounded by the social science experiment they’ve been working on.

Last week, the National Bureau of Economic Research released two working papers, 248 pages all-up, with the first results from an experiment testing the effects of a Universal Basic Income – a UBI.