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Google News 09/04: Universal basic income in the spotlight
Wealth redistribution programs are popular among some voters in the United States, especially when they consider the large and highly visible gap between the highest earners and the very poorest of our society. There’s a strong sense that money ought to go towards those who suffer from crippling poverty and lack of opportunity, even if it comes directly from the pockets of their more comfortable neighbors.
At least one Democratic nominee, Andrew Yang, has made such a program the cornerstone of his campaign. The former lawyer and entrepreneur is pushing a universal basic income (UBI) of $1,000 a month, which would be provided to every citizen regardless of need. He argues that this would act as a kind of stimulus package, boosting the economy by encouraging spending, while also unlocking some amount of human capital and potential by allowing the average person to pursue other, non-career related goals and hobbies.
The writers of today’s article from The Washington Post report on a Mississippi-based organization that provided $1,000 dollars a month to 20 single mothers to use as they pleased. This story raises important questions about the efficacy of such programs and their moral and practical implications.
