183 Search Result(s) for: “basic income”
UBI, the Unknown Ideal
A new book on universal basic income argues for us to "give people money." Sounds good. But a lot of old questions about how to do it are still left unanswered.
We Can Craft a Workable Workplace Democracy for a Socialist Future
The structure of democratic firms within a socialist framework might clash with broader goals such as balanced growth and equitable income. We will need a model that can harmonize firm-level democracy with macroeconomic expansion and a solidaristic wage.
Why Americans Feel Like They’re Falling Behind
There is a widespread feeling that the living standard of the average American has declined since the mid-20th century. This is false — but it reflects the reality that it is now much harder for single-earner families to afford a mainstream lifestyle.
A General Without an Army
For all Piketty’s mainstream respectability, it is only the radical left and the labor movement — not treasuries and central banks — that can push his program.
A View of the Green New Deal From Argentina
The Green New Deal is gaining prominence internationally, with transformative green programs that respond to the specific needs of national economies. In debt-laden Argentina, leftists are arguing for a new Gran Pacto that implements a basic income and suspends all external-debt payments.
The UBI Bait and Switch
Finland’s UBI experiment serves as a cautionary tale for basic income proponents on the Left.
A Guaranteed Income Can Increase Workers’ Bargaining Power
Basic income schemes are no silver bullet to make up for the loss of well-paid union jobs. But they can allow workers say no to the most thankless, low-wage work — and provide a platform from which to rebuild our bargaining power.
“To Fight Unemployment, We Have to Fight Capitalism”
The COVID-19 crisis has hit South Africa's poor and working-class majority hard, with the government favoring the rich over the unemployed. Our friends at Africa Is a Country spoke with three South African organizers of the unemployed, who are fighting for decent public services — and a basic income.
Paying For Socialism
Concern trolls often ask how we can "afford" socialist policies. Once we're in power, we'll have options. For now, just ignore them.
Why We Need a Social Wealth Fund
A social wealth fund could massively reduce wealth inequality — and democratize the economy at the same time.
What Does Global Justice Look Like in the 21st Century?
In an interview with Jacobin, the political philosopher Philippe Van Parijs discusses the challenges of achieving global justice today, from winning an emancipatory basic income to accommodating mass migration to rich countries.
In Defense of Public Housing
Imagine a future in which many of us live in, and thrive in, quality public housing.
American Workers Are Riding the Income Roller Coaster
Uneven and unpredictable paychecks are on the rise for American workers. Income volatility doesn’t just make it harder to plan; it makes every unexpected expense a potential crisis.
Democrats Are About to Massively Spike Childcare Prices for Working-Class Families
The Democratic Party’s current childcare proposal would raise costs on many moderate-earning households by $13,000. It’s not clear the party realizes the disaster it’s about to thrust these families into.
We Can’t Ignore Class Dealignment
Matt Karp on class dealignment and why the Left’s weakening connection to blue-collar workers isn’t a problem we can wish away.
An Open Letter to Steven Pinker (and Bill Gates)
Steven Pinker's paeans to the poverty-reducing power of globalization are long on rhetoric and short on evidence. Neoliberal capitalism has actually made global poverty worse.
The Welfare State and Social Wealth Funds
The social dividend provided by a social wealth fund is not about unemployment or welfare at all. It is a socialist answer to the question of what to do about capital’s share of the national income.