What is basic income
Alternative to income tax and social security systems
Paid unconditionally to all
Weekly tax free payment
Replace sw for unemployed
Replace tax credits for employed
3 characteristics of basic income
Sufficiency
Unconditionality
Universality
Amount of basic income
Enough to survive without luxuries
Origins of basic income
Thomas Paine etc 18th century as social dividend
Friedman suggested replacing social security and tax systems 1962
He favoured free market w/ltd govt intervention
1970s experiment Canada +
Negatives of basic income - Healy and Reynolds -2
Fragility of jobs market - insufficient to meet demand
Failure of welfare system to solve and pricey against poverty
Positives of basic income
Sufficient income to provide dignity
Enable ppl to do meaningful unpaid work
Support ppl to participate in shaping decisions which impact them
Arguments in favour
Greater simplicity, transparency, certainty
Impact on less well off
Eliminates poverty/unemployment traps
Impact on autonomy and labour market participation
Improves incentives to recruit work
Spreads tax burden more equitably
Work/employment friendly
Efficient
Rewards home duties unpaid work
Facilities education and training
Faces up to changes in global EC
Arguments against basic income
Abolish WS
Unaffordable
Everyone should earn living
Doesn’t solve inequality
Encourage idleness
Promotes end of work idea
Inefficient use of public resources
Reduces value of work to mere income
Wouldn’t work in EU
Proposals for Basic income Ireland - succession of rejections until CORI
1980s BIEN est across Europe
First considered by Dowling 1978
Recommended - IT
Rejected by C on tax and C on SW 1980s re cost
Honohan dev model but said tax rate un achievable
Callan 1990s dev similar but agreed w\ Honohan
Expert WG 96 same
Green paper 2002
Steering group est
Argued for elimination traps
Simplification of sw system
Automatic payment resolve stigma
Unpaid or home work
Green paper 2002- arguments against basic income
V high single tax rate required
Labour force impact - disincentive
Universal scheme poorly targeted way to address poverty
Not flexible enough to meet diverse needs
Reinforces inequality by institutionalising workers v basic income dependents
Impact of green paper
Produced only cos of commitment in Partnership 2000
Supposed to be objective but was not
Debate failed to follow
Only supporters were CORI later social justice Ireland
Basic income pilots - Finland 2015
Debate reignited
Gained interest - automation could cut sw costs
Increased autonomy
Enhanced informal care
Positive mental health
Basic income pilots - Netherlands 2017
See what works initiative
Not means tested
Better mental health
No impact re inc or decrease employment
Greater proactive job seeking
Better economic security
Basic income pilots - Ontario 2017
Improved mental health
Improved housing stability and social relationships
Less frequent medical visits
Every dollar earned deducted 50c from wages
Non profit pilots - Rwanda/Kenya/uganda
Give directly est 2012 via Google
12 year experiment- largest study
Improved agency and outcome
No laziness or alcohol inc
Investment in assets and business
20% inc in village ec activity,business
Mortality rate dropped w/better health
Large sum and long term was effective
Non profit pilots - Germany 2009
My basic income crowdfunded
Improved job flexibility
Improved mental health,wellbeing, financial stability
Pilots under consideration
France
India
USA - legislation passed by Hawaii 2017
Rejection of basic income
Switzerland 2016
Rejected by referendum by 77%
Some argue that 23% in support of such radical policy is success
Contemporary basic income discourse in Ireland - 2 supporters
BII Formerly BIEN
Social justice Ireland
Proposals for basic income in Ireland
2016 policy conference costed it
Financed by 40% flat tax rate
150/week plus 38 top up to jobseekers
Quinn Baker paper 2023 by BII
BIA launched 2026
Supported by Green Party
