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Most western social democracies already have an overlapping network of benefit systems that are essentially a patchwork UBI in disguise. The system is designed
by drxzcl 9y ago
Most western social democracies already have an overlapping network of benefit systems that are essentially a patchwork UBI in disguise. The system is designed not to go without food and shelter, but the exact mechanism varies depending on what population group you belong to. There's assistance for the temporary unemployed, for students, for people with disabilities, people with long-term illnesses, etc. There's pensions for those that have aged out of the workforce, there's assistance for children. And this is only scratching the surface. Even working people get a fixed basic tax deduction under most taxation systems.
I'm not convinced that the sum total of all these benefits plus the current infrastructure that is needed to maintain, dispense and detect/punish abuse on them is significantly larger than the total expenditure on UBI.
Of course, all the people that you let go from the benefits departments initially will end up on UBI, so that's not really a big win. But eventually they will find employment elsewhere, hopefully.
- notahacker 9y ago> I'm not convinced that the sum total of all these benefits plus the current infrastructure that is needed to maintain, dispense and detect/punish abuse on them is significantly larger than the total expenditure on UBI. Most western social democracies publish the data on costs of running departments and numbers of working age people in employment or receiving each type of subsidy, so we know that the admin costs are negligible compared with the cost of paying a living subsidy to an enormous number of working age people who aren't claiming disability or unemployment benefits, generally because they don't need the money enough to take the steps necessary to claim it.
- kilroy123 9y agoI completely agree. I think moving to a single-payer health care system would also be required.
- gator-io 9y agoI believe single payer eliminates market competition to the detriment of all but those who can pay out of pocket. A better way is to use UBI which a portion earmarked only to purchase health insurance. Instant universal coverage with consumer choice and market forces stay intact.