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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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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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What is Finland's universal basic income scheme?
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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