UK Universal Basic Income

[AutomaticEarth]

Quite an interesting article, considering Finland is bringing in a universal basic income in 2017:

http://www.businessinsider.com/universa ... uk-2015-12

[johnhemming2]

The idea that there should be no extra support for families is not something I agree with.

Universal credit is in principle much like the basic income scheme. It does work to get rid of the poverty trap.

However, whichever scheme one has we do need to encourage people to participate in society whilst recognising that the effect of technology is actually to reduce the number of hours people should be required to work - to share out the available work of a nature many people can do.

[clv101]

...we do need to encourage people to participate in society whilst recognising that the effect of technology is actually to reduce the number of hours people should be required to work - to share out the available work of a nature many people can do.

Absolutely. Technology really should mean the nation can generate the same wealth on fewer hours worked - the challenge is the share out the available work. I'd wish far more people would were 4 and 3 day weeks rather than the 'normal' 5.

[johnhemming2]

That needs to be recognised in UC. The problem is that the government is not recognising the effect of techology. The Bank of England is, however.