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I've been thinking there should be a 'second' (?) currency. Basic income would be paid in this currency and you can buy certain stuff with it. Food, rent, gas e
by neals 10y ago
I've been thinking there should be a 'second' (?) currency. Basic income would be paid in this currency and you can buy certain stuff with it. Food, rent, gas etc.
Then we keep our current currencies right next to it. You can buy the same stuff but also other 'luxury goods' (or find a better nicer name for it)
I know that the Dutch government already makes this distingsion where we have 6% tax on food, art, medicine (and other stuff) and 21% tax on the rest. Since the distingsions is there and recognized, we can utilize it for other purpuses.
- snrplfth 10y agoWell, they have that, as "food stamps". But of course it gets arbitraged often by people buying storable commodity goods (like soda or detergent) with it, and selling those things at a discount.
- szemet 10y ago1. Then you may limit the economical benefit of the whole thing: people may not just consume using free money but may use it to small investments, produce something etc... Creative usage of money requires flexibility. 2. Secondary market will come: You either criminalize it then it will cost a lot, or not and you just give part of the money to the money changers for a service that could have been easily avoided.
- dagw 10y agoThat would remove much of the point. One of the basic premises of the idea is that individuals are better at knowing how to maximise their utility than the government. Will some people just use the money for beer and video games? Sure. But some people might also use the money in a really creative, positive, way that you and I haven't thought of. I'm willing to accept the former in the hope of increasing the chance of the latter.