UK - The Case For Basic Income

• The case for basic income: 1 Social justice

Everyone has basic rights to:

? nature and its provision

? the infrastructure and technology we all inherit

and therefore everyone has a right to

? a universal income Back

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• The case for basic income:

2 Welfare efficiency

Today’s welfare system:

? is means-tested, so very intrusive

? is very expensive to administer

? is a big disincentive to work, as benefits are withdrawn

? creates ‘unemployment traps’ and ‘poverty traps’

? has low take-up rates, failing to reach those in need

UBI is low cost to administer and avoids the disincentive to work

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3 Economic necessity

? Today’s high-tech economies achieve high productivity, increasing output more than wages

? Wages then become insufficient to fund the consumer expenditure we need

? Filling the gap with consumer credit is unsustainable and leads to an economic crisis

? Basic income creates sufficient demand in the economy, even if fewer people are working

? A universal wage, therefore, avoids economic crisis and austerity policy

4 Human flourishing and environmental responsibility

? High tech economies allow basic income to redefine our dependence on work for income

? This gives us the freedom to choose more creative activity and to flourish in life

? The present economic system relies on jobs and wages to secure our well being

? This leads to ever-higher output and consumption, with damaging environmental impact

? Universal basic income allows us to choose ecologically friendly economies and lifestyles

Find out everything you need to know here: www.ubi.org/1/The-Case-for-Basic-Income