<nettime> Is UBS better than UBI?

[Thomas Gramstad <thomas@gramstad.no>]

From

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/universal-basic-services-idea-better-basic-income-citizens-social-housing-ucl-a7993476.html

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Universal basic services could work better than basic income to 
combat 'rise of the robots', say experts

The state should make shelter, food, travel and IT services 
available to all, free at the point of use, rather than focusing 
on redistributing money, a team at UCL says

Ben Chapman @b_c_chapman 7 days ago 134 comments

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The Independent Online
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The radical proposals include building 1.5 million new social 
homes to provide rent-free accommodation to those in most need


UK citizens should receive free housing, food, transport and 
internet access to counter a “rise of the robots” that threatens 
to eradicate millions of jobs, new research has suggested.

Experts working for University College London’s Institute for 
Global Prosperity (IGP) say the universal ethos of the NHS should 
be expanded to cover other areas of life to mitigate the 
disruption caused by technological change.

The radical proposals include building 1.5 million new social 
homes to provide rent-free accommodation to those in most need 
and supplying one third of all meals for the estimated 2.2 
million households who struggle to experience food insecurity 
each year.


Half of Britons back plan to pay all UK citizens basic income
The Freedom Pass, which allows disabled people and those aged 
over 60 to travel locally for free, would be expanded to 
everyone. Basic internet and telephone access would also be paid 
for by the state, allowing everyone, including those on low or no 
incomes, to access work opportunities, “as well as participate in 
our democracy as informed citizens”, the IGP said.

The Institute has put forward the set of ideas, which it calls 
‘universal basic services”, as a more achievable and more 
desirable alternative to universal basic income (UBI).




The idea of UBI - paying everyone a guaranteed income regardless 
of whether they are in or out of work - has garnered lots of 
attention recently. But the IGP report’s authors argue that, 
while the aims of UBI may be laudable, the debate should move on 
to focus on more politically attainable goals.

Instead of attempting to alleviate poverty through redistributive 
payments and minimum wages, the state should instead provide 
everyone with the services they need to feel secure in society, 
the report’s authors argue.


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They say UBI is expensive. Paying all UK citizens the current 
Jobseeker's Allowance amount of £73.10 per week would cost almost 
£250bn per year - 13 per cent of the UK’s entire GDP.

By contrast, widening the social safety net through more 
comprehensive services would cost around £42bn, which can be 
funded by lowering the personal income tax allowance from £11,800 
to £4,300, according to the IGP’s analysis.

The experts say an expansion of basic services to everyone is 
highly progressive because those who rely on them will be 
disproportionately the least wealthy in society.

Almost half of the world's jobs, paying almost $16 trillion in 
wages, could be automated just by adapting existing technology in 
robotics, machine learning and Artificial Intelligence, a recent 
report by McKinsey estimated.

Professor Henrietta Moore, director of UCL’s Institute for Global 
Prosperity, said: “Without radical new ideas that challenge the 
status quo, we face a future where the changing shape of our 
society and labour market leaves more and more people struggling 
simply to achieve the basics – let alone having the resources and 
mental energy to allow themselves and their families to 
flourish.”


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She said that UBS was a logical extension of the widely accepted 
principle that health and education should be free at the point 
of use to everyone.

Commenting on the report, Labour Shadow Chancellor John 
McDonnell, said that rapid technological changes present a 
“profound challenge” for the economy and society.

“This report offers bold new thinking on how we can overcome 
those challenges and create an economy that is radically fairer 
and offers opportunities for all,” he said.

“It makes an important contribution to the debate around 
Universal Basic Income, and will help inform Labour’s thinking on 
how we can build an economy that truly works for the many not the 
few.”

Speaking at an event in London on Tuesday, the report’s authors, 
Professor Jonathan Portes, Howard Reed of Landman Economics and 
Andrew Percy from the IGP, said they intended their proposals to 
form a starting point for renewed debate on the issue.

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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/universal-basic-services-idea-better-basic-income-citizens-social-housing-ucl-a7993476.html
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