When the robots come to take our jobs, will Universal Basic Income become necessary?
TEACHERS: Get your students in the discussion on KQED Learn, a safe place for middle and high school students to investigate controversial topics and share their voices. https://learn.kqed.org/topics/17
ABOVE THE NOISE is a show that cuts through the hype and investigates the research behind controversial and trending topics in the news. Hosted by Myles Bess.
*NEW VIDEOS EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY*
SUBSCRIBE by clicking the RED BUTTON above.
Follow us on Instagram @kqedabovethenoise
Check out Two Cents, a new channel about money from PBS Digital Studios: https://www.youtube.com/TwoCentsPBS
* How much money would the universal basic income give you?
It depends. In the U.S., most experts think that $1,000 a month would be the ideal target amount. It’s just enough (maybe) to prevent total financial devastation, but not enough that it would dissuade people from keeping their job or looking for a job if they don’t have one.
* Who would get the universal basic income?
A true universal basic income would be universal, meaning everyone would get it. Even the wealthy like Bill Gates, although he would owe WAY more in taxes than than he’d get from the government.
* What are the main arguments FOR a universal basic income?
Some liberals think that a universal basic income is an effective method to fight financial inequality, which is big and growing. The wealthiest 1% own half of all the world’s wealth, and by 2030, it’s estimated to increase to two-thirds! Some conservatives think a universal basic income could shrink current welfare programs, and would put more choice in the hands of the individual.
* What are the main arguments AGAINST a universal basic income?
Some conservatives think that giving everyone a universal basic income would be so massively expensive that it would be totally impractical to implement, and would almost certainly require people to pay more in taxes. Liberals worry that in order to afford the universal basic income, government welfare programs like food stamps and housing assistance would need to be significantly cut or eliminated.
SOURCES:
Stanford scholar explores pros, cons of ‘basic income’
THE PARADOX OF UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME
https://www.wired.com/story/the-paradox-of-universal-basic-income/
Richest 1% on target to own two-thirds of all wealth by 2030
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/apr/07/global-inequality-tipping-point-2030
What does the federal government spend your tax dollars on?
What does the federal government spend your tax dollars on? Social insurance programs, mostly
Stockton Preparing Rollout Of Universal Basic Income Plan
Finland to end basic income trial after two years
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/23/finland-to-end-basic-income-trial-after-two-years
This Kenyan village is a laboratory for the biggest basic income experiment ever
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/3/6/14007230/kenya-basic-income-givedirectly-experiment-village
FOR EDUCATORS
KQED Learn https://learn.kqed.org
KQED Teach https://teach.kqed.org
KQED Education https://ww2.kqed.org/education
https://www.facebook.com/KQEDEducation
Tweets by KQEDedspace
https://www.instagram.com/kqededucation
About KQED
KQED, an NPR and PBS affiliate in San Francisco, CA, serves Northern California and beyond with a public-supported alternative to commercial TV, Radio, and web media. Funding for Above the Noise is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Silver Giving Foundation, Stuart Foundation, and William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
