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It's not a real threat, because as UBI is slowly ratcheted up to actually be a livable wage automation will replace all of that unskilled labor. If we institut

It's not a real threat, because as UBI is slowly ratcheted up to actually be a livable wage automation will replace all of that unskilled labor. If we instituted a UBI right now it might be something really low, like maybe $200/mo. A person might work fewer hours at their shitty no-skill low wage job, but they aren't going to quit.

ianai 10y ago
It would vary by locality. I'm guessing the figure should be such that you could afford rent (1 bedroom, worst part of town) and food off it.
- Consultant32452 10y ago
  Eventually yes, but I was speaking of the transition period that the OP was asking about... what will happen while businesses still need labor? That is, before we've successfully automated all of the low skill human labor? Well, until then, we need people to work, so the UBI would have to be below a livable wage.
  - ianai 10y ago
    Not at all. People will still want to work. Everyone wants better than they currently have. so you can afford food and rent. you may not need it but you still want a cell phone, Internet, a car, etc etc. the point is to ensure a basic quality of life. The rest is up to the individual. Plus after UBI people will be much more open to working fewer hours or with no benefits. It's a very strong positive externality on labor flexibility.
- dllthomas 10y ago
  If you mean "in practice it will vary by location because it won't be everywhere provided by the same organization, and thus likely won't be provided everywhere under the same rules," then I agree with your expectation. If you mean "a basic income, offered by the same organization in multiple places, should be adjusted for cost of living", I disagree. Moving some "extra" funds towards lower cost-of-living areas winds up being a feature - resources are shifted (slightly) away from concentrations of wealth and toward concentrations of people, where those disagree.

ianai 10y ago

It would vary by locality. I'm guessing the figure should be such that you could afford rent (1 bedroom, worst part of town) and food off it.

Consultant32452 10y ago
Eventually yes, but I was speaking of the transition period that the OP was asking about... what will happen while businesses still need labor? That is, before we've successfully automated all of the low skill human labor? Well, until then, we need people to work, so the UBI would have to be below a livable wage.
- ianai 10y ago
  Not at all. People will still want to work. Everyone wants better than they currently have. so you can afford food and rent. you may not need it but you still want a cell phone, Internet, a car, etc etc. the point is to ensure a basic quality of life. The rest is up to the individual. Plus after UBI people will be much more open to working fewer hours or with no benefits. It's a very strong positive externality on labor flexibility.
dllthomas 10y ago
If you mean "in practice it will vary by location because it won't be everywhere provided by the same organization, and thus likely won't be provided everywhere under the same rules," then I agree with your expectation. If you mean "a basic income, offered by the same organization in multiple places, should be adjusted for cost of living", I disagree. Moving some "extra" funds towards lower cost-of-living areas winds up being a feature - resources are shifted (slightly) away from concentrations of wealth and toward concentrations of people, where those disagree.